The digital transformation of the East Coast Mainline

This event is at the Bradfield Centre, Cambidge Science Park.

The East Coast Mainline (ECML) is vital to the economic prosperity of the UK. The digital transformation of the whole of the ECML is a key part of a national opportunity to modernise the UK rail network. The East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP) at circa £1.8bn is the first part of the ECML transformation. It will be achieved through the introduction of European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) digital technologies to the Southern section of the ECML. Seizing the opportunity presented by a significant signalling renewals work bank. This once in a generation alignment opportunity to upgrade its legacy signalling systems will unlock the opportunities presented by digital technologies to realise significant benefits. In its final configuration the ECML-South will operate as a Driver operated railway without lineside signals. This talk will present the strategic significance of the programme, its approach to overcoming the key challenges faced in implementing digital technology across a multi operator / stakeholder landscape, the current status of the programme and future stages to realise the full benefits.

Our speaker, Paul Thomas, is the Technical Director for rail systems in Atkins and is currently leading the Engineering Management Office for the East Coast Digital Programme. He has over 30 years of experience in the engineering management and delivery of railway systems on rail, light mass transit and main line railway applications in the UK and internationally. Paul has extensive experience of automation projects in brownfield and greenfield applications, delivering large, complex infrastructure rail programmes involving multi-disciplinary projects. He’s worked on the Copenhagen driverless metro (one of the first driverless metros in the world), the Danish Signalling Programme and TfLs Sub-surface upgrade and Deep Tube programmes.