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GREAT BRITAIN | Network Rail tests steam locomotive with digital ETCS safety system

Posted by Timothy on

April 2025 has seen the start of testing at speed for the world’s first operational steam locomotive to be fitted with European Train Control System or ETCS technology. Tests are being done by Network Rail, the railway infrastructure (the tracks) in Great Britain. So England, Scotland and Wales. Not Northern Ireland.

Tornado – a modern steam locomotive built in 2008 – is the first loco in the charter and heritage pathfinder project for the East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP). In this year of Railway 200, the project is blending steam engineering with digital signalling technology – the pioneering of the 19th century meeting the 21st century.

The pathfinder project was set up to enable all parts of the railway to share in a digital transformation. The introduction of digital signalling, initially to the East Coast Main Line, will create a more efficient, more reliable and even safer railway with lower emissions.

The heritage pathfinder is about the potential for main line operations of steam and heritage diesel to be enjoyed and celebrated by future generations. Heritage rail plays an important role in the United Kingdom‘s tourist economy, contributing over £600m annually. 

The fitment has involved a dynamic collaboration involving Hitachi Rail (onboard equipment), AtkinsRealis (fitment design), A1 Steam Locomotive Trust (loco owners) and Network Rail (integration). 

The project has required overcoming significant challenges around electrical supply, managing braking, both directions running, and enabling the human interface in an environment which is noisy and dusty, sometimes rainy, with vibrations.

The overnight test runs this week have been on the Cambrian line between Shrewsbury and Newtown, in Mid Wales. The Cambrian line was an early pilot of ETCS in this country, completed in 2011. The test trains have been operated by special trains operator West Coast Railway with Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) providing expertise in the form of the test train officers involved with each trip. 

The process of dynamic testing is intended to provide learnings, and issues and challenges uncovered by this testing phase will be carefully analysed. Later this year, the heritage diesel pathfinder loco, Deltic ‘Royal Scots Grey’ is also expected to undertake dynamic testing on the Cambrian. Further refining and assurance processes will be involved ahead of any mainline heritage operation in ETCS Level Two.

Ed Akers, Network Rail’s industry partnership director, ECDP, said in the Network Rail press release: “The innovation and expertise delivered through the Tornado pathfinder has provided significant learnings for our programme, applicable for fitment across a range of fleets”. 

“The pathfinder project reflects the ‘whole railway’ nature of our collaborative ECDP partnership. This week’s testing is an important stage in a process to determine the technical and commercial feasibility of fitment for heritage and charter fleets.”

Andy Bell, vice president, Hitachi Rail UK, said: “Tornado’s retrofit with our ETCS is a world-first that has tested our technology in one of the most complex operating environments. This very special project demonstrates not only the adaptability of Hitachi Rail’s system but also what’s possible when we respect the past while designing for what’s next, combining engineering expertise with deep, trusted partnerships across the industry”.

“The lessons we’ve learned here have created a valuable blueprint for future projects.  Carrying forward the relationships, insights, and technical progress from this work will be essential to maintaining momentum, not only for heritage integrations but for wider applications across modern rolling stock as well.”

Alejandro Moreno, AtkinsRéalis market director – rail & transit, UK & Ireland, said: “Steam locomotives are more than just machines, they’re living, breathing monuments to British innovation. We had to find creative solutions to integrate modern technology in an environment which is noisy, dusty, hot and exposed – all the while preserving Tornado’s authentic character and enabling operation on the digital railway. This world-first project will benefit the entire sector, demonstrating how a collaborative pathfinder approach can solve complex fitment challenges across our evolving railway.”

Rob Morland, electrical engineer, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, said: “We are very pleased that Tornado was selected as the world’s first operational steam locomotive be fitted with ETCS, and have been actively engaged in providing a platform for testing ETCS in this challenging environment”. 

“We have extended Tornado’s already comprehensive electrical system to provide the additional power required. This has included the fitment of a second steam turbogenerator, a new axle driven alternator and a third battery bank, dedicated to ETCS. The system is designed to provide a very reliable electrical supply to meet in full the availability requirements of a modern onboard digital signalling system.”

“We’ve also supported the mechanical and design work, undertaking changes to both the tender and engine, and supported the work to install, commission and test the system.”

Matthew Teller, head of systems integration for ERTMS at GTR (one of the test train officers), said:” This has been both a thrilling experience and a real privilege to support the wider industry in the deployment of ETCS. Having introduced digital signalling on commuter services in London, Govia Thameslink Railway has become an experienced industry leader in ETCS testing, so we’re delighted to be able to collaborate in this way.”

ETCS in Great Britain

Digital signalling, using ETCS is a proven technology already in use in many countries in Europe and elsewhere. The ECDP will see the first introduction of ETCS to an intercity mainline in Great Britain, and will provide the foundation for the future expansion of digital signalling across the network. 

ETCS is currently in use in the central London section of Thameslink and on the Cambrian Line in Wales, and now on the Northern City Line (Finsbury Park to Moorgate), in the first stage of ECDP.

An example for Belgium?

In 2019, NMBS / SNCB and its museum Train World worked on digitalising a steam locomotive for heritage runs. But that idea was shelved two years ago, in May 2023. Too complicated.

Perhaps not. But with NMBS / SNCB having yet again to cut costs, it’s highly unlikely there will be money for the project. 

The railways must save 50 million euros this year, according to the government. The largest part of that amount concerns the transport company NMBS / SNCB, which is required to find 45 million euros. This was reported by L’Echo and De Tijd on 12 April. 

In total, the railways must save more than 675 million euros by 2029. Railway unions had already mentioned this figure in response to recent rail strikes. The savings target for 2025 is 50 million euros and will gradually increase to 250 million euros by 2029. In 2026, the target is 100 million euros, followed by 125 million euros in 2027 and 150 million euros in 2028, according to the business newspapers.

This year, NMBS  / SNCB must save 45 million euros, of which 41 million euros will be cut from the fixed operating fee the company receives from the state. The remaining 9 million euros will be split equally between NMBS and the rail network manager Infrabel.

Neither NMBS nor Infrabel have commented on how the savings will be implemented. The government has stated that Infrabel’s investment budget must remain intact in order to prevent the rail network infrastructure from becoming obsolete.

Feature image by Nico Spruyt who spotted this steam locomotive at Schaerbeek railway station.

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