TWELVE round trips run by Class 717‘Desiro City’EMUs between Finsbury Park and Moorgate were made on November 27 using digital in-cab rather than conventional lineside signalling.
It was the first day that European Train Control System (ETCS) technology was put into use for passenger services on the Northern City Line.
The conventional system will be retained until all drivers know how to use the new technology, but the number of ETCS-signalled services will progressively increase as more of them become trained.
ETCS, which is being rolled out as part of the £1.4billion East Coast Digital programme (which will ultimately see it used to control trains between King’s Cross and Stoke Tunnel, near Grantham) is designed to enable more efficient train operation than colour light signalling. Acab display shows a target speed to the driver and is continually updated using information about the location of other trains.