The UK government has announced that it is investing £1bn in modernising Britain’s railways.
The funding will be focused on replacing Victorian infrastructure with modern digital signalling technology, with the project being named the East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP).
The East Coast Main Line is significant to the nation’s economy, with one-third of the population living within 20 minutes of one of its stations.
The technology will be deployed across the entire southern section of the line – from London’s King’s Cross to Stoke Tunnels, affecting millions of commuters.
Toufic Machnouk, director, industry partnership for digital railway, Network Rail, said: “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 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.”
The goal is to make the line safer, more responsive and more efficient.
It will reportedly decrease carbon emissions by 55,000 tonnes as part of the government’s net zero ambition.
The ECDP follows more than £350m of prior investment in digital signalling technology for other services.
Network Rail said it will prioritise the request for an additional £427m, which would bring the overall investment to just under £2bn.
