Senior members from Network Rail’s East Coast Operations Business Change team and Loram specialists met in Derby to explore how ETCS fitment to On Track Machines can help improve operational performance and infrastructure resilience.
Loram UK provides a number of infrastructure assurance and maintenance services to Network Rail, including specialist Rail Grinding trains. These On Track Machines improve the profile of rails, so that passenger and freight operators can safely run on NR assets at maximum speed.
The team from NR’s East Coast Operations Business Change team, which includes operating and signalling specialists, are looking to ensure all users of the railway are taking full advantage of the capacity and performance benefits that ETCS will deliver.
Loram’s newly built RGC Rail Grinder is the UK’s first On Track Machine (OTM) to be ETCS fitted, paving the way for many hundreds of other OTM rail vehicles that work, often unseen, maintaining a safe and reliable railway.
The working group focused on key areas for the OTM sector on the path to ‘signal-free’, the point at which train movements are managed on-train, rather than by lineside signals. These discussions included sharing best practices and joint training, as well as how future signalling instructions and improvement to the Rule Book would allow On Track Machines to continue delivering maximum output during possessions.
Debbie Francis, MD of Loram UK said: “I’m very grateful to John Earley and his team for spending time with us. Bringing together his NR operating and signalling experts alongside our On Track Machine specialists helped both teams understand the massive prize that ETCS offers our passenger and freight customers.
“As a specialist rolling stock supplier we are acutely conscious that the ETCS programme is in receipt of public funds to deliver this programme. Loram has made a point of aggressively removing any unnecessary costs as we prepare our equipment to go ‘signal-free’ and we look forward to sharing our knowledge and experience with colleagues across the industry, so together we can deliver value to both fare and taxpayers.”
John Earley, senior programme manager – operations at Network Rail added: “This was a great opportunity for Network Rail to get closer to its customer and understand the challenges and opportunities that an OTM operator has in delivering ETCS-enabled machines. Days like this will help us refine the way this sector can use ETCS methods of operation whilst delivering work in possessions.
It’s been encouraging to hear how Loram is pushing forward on delivering the benefits of ETCS in a cost-efficient way.”
Image credit: Loram
