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SIGNALLING & TELECOMS
A question of confidence
HELEN DAVIS
A Coronavirus has had a significant impact on passenger confidence.
gainst the backdrop of the Coronavirus pandemic, there has been a significant decrease in the number of those travelling by public transport, resulting in part from the virus’ impact on passenger confidence.
The number of journeys between April and June 2020 fell by more than 80% compared to the previous year and although this figure will eventually recover, it will take some considerable time for demand to return to pre-pandemic levels. As an
Rail Engineer | Issue 189 | Mar-Apr 2021
and drive sustainable growth throughout the country, levelling up Britain’s economy.
Digital signalling and control industry, we have to take steps now to restore confidence in the railway as a safe, secure and attractive mode of transport, and there are a number of approaches that will enable us to achieve this. Digital technologies are central to the delivery of both an improved passenger experience and operational performance, with solutions ranging from digital signalling and control systems to telecommunications and integrated passenger information systems. Developing and delivering these technologies are also central to achieving the UK Government’s decarbonisation goals and helping to fight climate change. By investing in digital technology, we will not only be providing attractive, sustainable and low-carbon solutions, but will also create green jobs
The European Train Control System (ETCS) is a perfect example of how the introduction of digital technology can drive a wide range of benefits. An ETCS solution in combination with Automatic Train Operation (ATO) was installed on the technically complex Thameslink Programme, with daily services of trains starting to run using this technology in December 2019. The next major ETCS installation will see the system installed on the East Coast Main Line (ECML). On completion, this will deliver improved reliability and increased capacity to the 20 million passengers that use the line each year. Designed and installed by Siemens Mobility, the ETCS solution for Thameslink is controlled by a Trackguard Westlock computer-based interlocking with networked
