Welcome to My Logistics Magazine. UK Focused Global Outlook.
Publish
Advertise
My Logistics Magazine - Advertise

Advertising Opportunities

Advertise on My Logistics Magazine and connect with a highly targeted audience of logistics professionals and enthusiasts.

We provide a range of advertising options, such as banner ads, sponsored content, job listings, and social media advertising.

£1 billion technology investment to bring railway into 21st century

New funding for a more reliable and sustainable rail network.
£1 billion technology investment to bring railway into 21st century
Image: 35mmMan. CC BY 2.0

More than £1 billion of government funding will be used to replace outdated Victorian infrastructure with cutting edge digital signalling technology.

  • government makes £1 billion digital signalling investment on one of UK’s busiest rail routes
  • will deliver safer, more reliable and more resilient services on East Coast Main Line
  • new technology will mean fewer delays while creating around 5,000 jobs

One-third of the nation’s population live within 20 minutes of a station on the East Coast Main Line and, together, produce more than 40% of the UK’s GDP, making it one of the UK’s busiest rail routes while also playing a vital role in the prosperity of the nation’s economy.

The technology, which will be rolled out across the entire southern section of the line – from London’s King’s Cross to Stoke Tunnels, just south of Grantham – will mean faster, safer and more regular trains for millions of people.

A week after union leaders brought much of the nation’s railway to a standstill with strikes, this investment is a key example of how the government wants to bring the industry into the 21st century.

While union bosses waste time touring television studios and standing on picket lines, I am busy getting on with the job at hand and modernising our railway.

This £1 billion investment will allow us to replace unreliable Victorian infrastructure with cutting-edge technology which will mean fewer delays and more regular services for millions of passengers.

The world is changing and, despite the best efforts of unions, I am determined to help our railway change with it.

Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps

The funding will remove outdated lineside signalling and replace it with the European train control system (ETCS), which brings signalling into train drivers’ cabs and provides them with real-time, continuous information throughout their journey.

The new in-cab technology will create a more responsive, more resilient railway and, crucially for passengers, one that can recover quicker when journeys don’t go to plan. Most importantly, as the system will constantly monitor the train’s speed, it will also create a safer railway.

Freight customers throughout supply chains are dependent on reliable rail services to deliver goods to people. 

We welcome this investment in digital signalling that will provide a more flexible and resilient railway, unlocking future growth potential in rail freight traffic supporting both decarbonisation and economic growth.

Maggie Simpson OBE, Director General, Rail Freight Group

As well as the many passenger benefits, the ECDP will deliver a much-needed financial boost to the industry and, over its lifetime, is 42% cheaper than the current system.

It will also help the government towards its net zero goal by decreasing carbon emissions by 55,000 tonnes – the equivalent of more than 65,000 one-way flights from London to New York.

Digital signalling will allow the full potential of our Azuma fleet technology to be realised and means our customers will benefit from even more reliable and sustainable journeys in the future.

David Horne, Managing Director at London North Eastern Railway (LNER)

We’re delighted with this announcement, which will mean better services in the future for our passengers on the East Coast Mainline.

This massive investment builds on our work to implement digital signalling on the Northern City Line into Moorgate in the City of London and it means we can continue to roll out the technology on some of our key routes.

Tom Moran, Thameslink and Great Northern Managing Director

The ECDP follows more than £350 million of prior investment to fit other services on the route with the new technology, with over 80% of passenger rolling stock on the East Coast Mainline South already using the ETCS.

Network Rail will prioritise the request for a further investment of £427 million as part of the next control period settlement, bringing the overall investment to just under £2 billion.

We are delighted to have been given the go ahead for this ground-breaking programme that will transform the capability and resilience of the East Coast Main Line and be a key enabler for the wider network.

The East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP) is uniquely bringing together all elements of track and train through a pioneering industry partnership that is working beyond boundaries in a deep collaboration.

We will upskill our people and use new technology to improve the way we work for the benefit of passengers and freight customers.

Toufic Machnouk, Director, Industry Partnership for Digital Railway, Network Rail

Originally posted on www.gov.uk. Licensed under Open Government Licence.

Total
0
Shares
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts
Geodis 15-25 degrees c
Read More

GEODIS Inaugurates New Temperature-Controlled Facility in Schiphol-Rijk

On October 6th, the renowned global logistics provider GEODIS commenced operations at its expansive 5,500 square-meter site in Schiphol. This newly established facility is dedicated to serving the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. Situated adjacent to the existing site, it will significantly enhance GEODIS' presence in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, which are already well-established at the company's Venlo site, particularly in the realm of contract logistics for clients in both sectors. The new investment in Schiphol-Rijk will primarily focus on freight forwarding and become an integral part of GEODIS' worldwide cross-docking network for both ambient and cold chain products. This state-of-the-art location holds a TAPA-A rating for air freight and boasts the CEIV Pharma certification, ensuring the proper handling of goods within the temperature ranges of 15-25 °C and 2-8 °C. Mark van den Assem, Managing Director of GEODIS Benelux, shared, "By adding this specialized warehouse at Schiphol-Rijk, we can offer our clients a comprehensive solution for pharmaceutical and healthcare logistics. Enhancing the synergy between our Contract Logistics and Freight Forwarding divisions is a pivotal component of our growth strategy and will significantly benefit our customers' supply chain requirements." GEODIS is a leading global logistics provider recognized for its expertise in all aspects of the supply chain. As a trusted growth partner for its clients, GEODIS specializes in five key areas: Supply Chain Optimization, Global Freight Forwarding, Global Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and the European Road Network. With a global presence spanning nearly 170 countries and a workforce of over 49,400 employees, GEODIS ranks as the 6th largest company in its sector worldwide. In 2022, GEODIS generated €13.7 billion in revenue. The company is a subsidiary of the SNCF group.