Learning from the East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP) January 2022
ECDP is is truly integrating the industry like never before. In embracing a highly collaborative partnership approach, we are overcoming decades of legacy ways of working across the railway. Consciously re-aligning the focus of the programme to be one of ‘transformational change enabled by technology’ rather than ‘technology enabled change’ has rightly set the dial on the pProgramme to recognise that people will be core to the success of ECDP. We are living up to the values we have set for the programme – Pioneering, Inclusive and Tenacious. I am overwhelmingly proud of how we have come together across over 30 partner organisations and how we continue to nurture an environment where we can all thrive, investing in our people and engaging the right people at the right time, on the right topics, to deliver at pace. We respect our collective diversity and support and challenge each other so that we can all be successful in delivering our next generation railway. We are committed to learning from others, achieving the best from collective knowledge and in realising our ambition to leave a blueprint for the future, a positive legacy of shared learning and upskilled capability across the industry.
Caroline Crewther, ECDP Industry Change Lead, Railway Systems Integration Partner, Atkins
Executive Summary The East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP) is pioneering a new approach to the delivery of a complex digital Command, Control & Signalling (CCS) upgrade. During a series of interviews, RIA found that this is already delivering benefits and there are a series of early lessons the railway industry can learn for future programmes.
roll-out. The ECDP is utilising a new unique programme structure and contractual partnership with their suppliers to improve the delivery of digital signalling and reap the benefits its brings. Despite the hugely complex task of moving to the European Train Control System on the a major line, the ECDP team has established a lean structure that is different from previous CCS projects in the UK. It was established and has been led by Network Rail Eastern Director of Industry Partnership Digital, Toufic Machnouk, whose team has taken on a considerably different role than historically.
The ECDP is upgrading the CCS on the East Coast Main Line to modern radio based digital signalling including the European Train Control System (ETCS) and a Traffic Management System (TMS), to improve railway capability and be the catalyst for a route and network
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