Long-suffering commuters promised 'transformational' digital railway

A ‘digital transformation’ set to revolutionise the country’s railways and reduce disruption was outlined to the public on Thursday - but some City commuters would be forgiven for taking the announcement with the smallest pinch of salt.

It was Great Northern commuters’ turn to suffer delays during the evening peak, with major disruption between London and Stevenage being caused by a faulty train.

Such delays come to commuters across the UK with some regularity - despite decades of promises that privatisation, franchise amalgamation and further public investment in rolling stock and infrastructure would solve the issues.

Still, Network Rail did its level best to convince the public of its plans, saying that by the time the long-awaited HS2 route arrives in Manchester, the majority of the UK network - covering some 70% of journeys - would have undergone a technological “transformation” delivering “faster, more frequent, safer services” to millions of passengers across Britain.

Services through London Bridge, into King’s Cross, Waterloo, and across the Pennines, would be the first to “reap the benefits” of the so-called “technological leap”, as the blueprint earmarked those routes for transformation over the next five years.

Waterloo and London Bridge are among the most despised London terminals for commuters, with long-expired Victorian third-rail infrastructure often mixing with overcrowding to cause unpleasant journeys - or lack of journeys - for all involved.

Over the past two decades, passenger numbers nationwide have doubled and were continuing to grow, Network Rail said, but Britain’s railways were “full to bursting”, especially at peak times - news that would come as no surprise to many a commuter.

Big capacity boosting infrastructure projects, such as Thameslink and Crossrail, were described as expensive and caused “years of disruption”, while its “digital railway” initiative offered an alternative way to deliver additional capacity, making the most of what was already there.

More than half of Britain’s analogue signalling systems - some still based on Victorian technology - with lineside traffic lights controlling trains, would need to be replaced within the next 15 years.

The infrastructure operator said like-for-like replacement would cost around £20bn and deliver “very little” in terms of passenger benefits.

New digital signalling offered a more cost-effective alternative that would also bring “significant benefits” for rail users, such as more capacity, speed and reliability.

Digital train control was already a reality on the Thameslink core through London Bridge, and on Crossrail - to be branded the Elizabeth line when it fully opens.

In the five years to 2024, Network Rail said the industry was planning to introduce digital train control across the Pennines, on the southern end of the East Coast main line into London King’s Cross, and onto some of the major commuter routes that feed London Waterloo.

Within 15 years, the aim was to see 70% of journeys benefit from digital railway technology.

“Not since the railway transformed from steam to diesel in the 1960s has a technological breakthrough held such promise to vastly improve our railway for the benefit of the millions of people and businesses who rely on it every day,” said Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne.

“The age of a digital railway has today moved from the drawing board and into reality as we reveal a blueprint that will improve the lives of millions of passengers and freight users across the country.

“Today’s commitment is to adopt and roll-out new digital technology, for both trains and track, that will deliver faster, more frequent services for passengers and businesses alike, giving our economy a massive boost.”