UK’s industry regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), has approved Hitachi Rail Europe’s new European Train Control System (ETCS) for use on passenger services.
The approval was granted after a trial made by Hitachi in a joint project with Network Rail to run a train along the Cambrian line, in Wales, controlled by its ETCS.
“This is big step forward for digital innovation on the UK rail network and, once implemented, can deliver revolutionary benefits for rail passengers. Hitachi is hugely proud to be the first to achieve this milestone, which is a testament to the hard work of our testing and signalling teams,” Andy Rogers, Project Director of Hitachi Rail Europe said.
Hitachi will install its ETCS in over 160 new trains it is building. The first of these modern trains – the Class 800/801 – enter passenger service next year on the Great Western Mainline, as part of the Intercity Express Programme (IEP).
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