Ramboll to support deployment of Digital Rail technology on the East Coast Mainline

The East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP) will transform the operation on the first inter-city mainline in the UK to a no-signals digital railway. The team will oversee and manage integration, coordinate industry and relationships and provide governance. It will transform our rail network, increasing resilience, responsiveness, capacity, sustainability, and safety of our rail infrastructure.

This major digital railway implementation across the East Coast Main Line will include the introduction of modern and cost-effective digital signalling from London Kings Cross to Stoke Tunnel, an area referred to as ECML South. Included within the ECDP is the deployment of digital signalling on the Northern City Line (NCL) (between Finsbury Park and Moorgate). NCL shall be progressed as an accelerated and distinct digital train control deployment. 

Rob McIntosh, route director for the LNE & EM route, said: “This is an extraordinary and exciting opportunity that will have a significant and sustained impact on the future of the railway and the economies and communities we serve.

“The RSIP will assist us to maximise the potential benefits of the digital signalling and train control systems by leading the industry through the change process and ensuring collective operational readiness on this complex transformation programme.”

Commenting on the appointment, Steve Brown, Ramboll’s Market Director for Rail in the UK said “Ramboll is a world-leader in digital rail and signalling, delivering digital rail (commonly known as The European Rail Traffic Management System - ERTMS) in no less than nine countries including the first in Denmark. Drawing together a team of experts across our business together with our partners Atkins and PwC, we are able to bring Network Rail and its partners the latest experiences and knowledge to modernise our railway infrastructure for the future” 

Ramboll’s RSIP appointment follows our work in supporting Network Rail’s central Digital Railway programme to prepare for this implementation phase.

The digitalisation of the rail network will help rail authorities meet future passenger and freight demand by increasing network capacity, whilst reducing whole life cost and improving performance.