Faced with the current funding and capacity challenges on the UK's railway network, the rail industry has turned to data. Digital Railway is a programme developed by Network Rail which has three aims: more trains, better connections and greater reliability.
Data takes centre stage in achieving these aims, as Digital Railway involves the UK adopting:
- modern digital signalling, in particular, the European Rail Traffic Management System ("ERTMS") and the European Train Control System ("ETCS"), which replace lineside signalling with in-cab signalling;
- Automatic Train Operation ("ATO"), which provides decision support to drivers in the cab, in order that train drivers have the information they need at the right time to boost performance and safety; and
- new traffic management systems, which maximise performance by allowing trains to run together as effectively as possible through optimising the speed and movements of trains on the network.
Digital Railway to Date
The first phase Digital Railway projects are now nearing completion and so far look to be a success. These projects include:
- Thameslink: a new timetable will significantly increase the number of trains running through the core from St. Pancras to Blackfriars. This capacity boost has been made possible by the deployment of ATO in conjunction with ETCS; and
- Crossrail: digital signalling and train control will be a major part of the technology that underpins Crossrail when the first trains run in 2019. Once the integration testing is completed later this year, Network Rail and Crossrail Ltd will seek authorisation from the Office of Rail and Road to place ETCS into service.
The success of the first phase projects have provided a positive case for further investment in the programme. Indeed it seems the Digital Railway programme continues to have the financial backing of the government. In the Autumn 2017 Budget Statement, chancellor Philip Hammond pledged an £84 million package for fitting in-cab digital signalling across a range of trains, and a further £5 million to pay for a digital railway upgrade on the south east and East London lines.
It remains to be seen how the industry as a whole will react to the proposed next steps. It will be particularly interesting to see how Network Rail, as manager of the majority of the UK's rail infrastructure, will deliver the anticipated enhancements. To date, many in the industry have voiced their frustration as to the pace at which new digital technologies have been adopted.
New Opportunities
In addition to the operational benefits to UK rail, it is hoped that the Digital Railway programme will bring with it new and interesting opportunities for the private sector, and in particular those in financing and the supply chain.
Early Contractor Involvement programme
Marking a paradigm shift away from traditional contracting and acceptance methods to more innovative, risk sharing, collaborative approaches with supply chain technology partners, the Early Contractor Involvement ("ECI") programme is a cornerstone of the Digital Railway.
Digital Railway intends the ECI programme to revolutionise the way the rail industry works with the supply chain in order to realise the potential of better quality data and thereby deliver significant savings in the cost of digital technology. To date, this has involved the rail industry engaging with non-traditional suppliers, drawing on the experiences and expertise of companies and organisations in a range of different sectors, including automotive, aerospace, defence and electronics. Data is therefore opening up the rail industry to new participants in the technology industry.
New financing opportunities
In addition to new opportunities for non-traditional suppliers, the Government is encouraging greater levels of private sector financing.
Network Rail has been advised by the Digital Railway Ministerial Group that in order secure third party investment, it needs to encourage alternative models of funding, financing and delivery and involve the investor community much earlier in the planning and development of future investments.
However, given the relatively short lifecycles involved, as well as the continued pace of technological evolution and change, obtaining private finance for these new technology solutions may indeed prove challenging.
The Cyber Safety Challenge
Whilst Digital Railway offers the potential to protect trains from collisions, improve efficiency and capacity of the rail network and open up the industry to new financing and technology partners, the digitalisation of the UK's railways brings with it new risk: that of cyber security. Indeed, worryingly, in 2016 it was claimed that the UK rail network had been hit by at least four major cyber-attacks over a 12-month period.
This new threat has been acknowledged by the Department for Transport ("DfT"). In its "Rail Cyber Security" report of 2016, the DfT states a concern for the cyber security of ERTMS and other on-train systems because of the increasing use of systems accessible through public and private networks.
The Digital Railway team is however very much alive to these risks and has played a key role in developing the UK Railway Cyber Security Strategy, which seeks to ensure all areas of the sector are strengthened and proportionately managing their cyber security risks.
Co-operations as the Key to Success
Given the complexity of the Digital Railway programme and the many stakeholders, success will depend on effective co-ordination, decision making and co-operation across the many stakeholders involved.
A whole industry approach is needed. Alliances will need to be formed across Network Rail, train operating companies and new technology and finance suppliers. Core competencies of the train operators and infrastructure providers will need to be combined with the technology capabilities of the supply industry. Ensuring stakeholder engagement and co-operation will be key to the success of Digital Railway.
With special thanks to Associate Helen Raynsford for her contribution.
