World-First: Digitally Signalled Steam Locomotive with ETCS
In a historic first for the railway industry, testing of a steam locomotive fitted with Hitachi Rail's European Train Control System (ETCS) in Level 2 has been completed successfully on the Cambrian line in Wales. As part of Network Rail's East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP), the historic Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado is the first steam locomotive in the world to operate on a digital signalling route. This project marks a milestone in the evolution of UK rail and future-proofing UK rail infrastructure by bringing heritage and digital technology together for the first time.
ETCS is a digital signalling technology that replaces traditional trackside signals. It works by transmitting movement authorities and speed limits directly to the train cab, allowing drivers to operate with greater precision. By enabling real-time communication between trains and infrastructure, ETCS improves safety, enhances reliability, and increases capacity on the rail network.
The dynamic testing was designed to demonstrate how ETCS performs in a non-standard, highly complex operational environment, providing insight into both technical feasibility and broader applicability. Hitachi Rail provided its ETCS onboard system, successfully integrated into a steam locomotive cab's unique physical and operational constraints. "Tornado's retrofit with our ETCS is a world-first project that has tested our technology in one of the most complex and harsh operating environments, proving heritage and digital systems can coexist without compromise," said Tank Porteous, Mainline Signalling Programme Director, Hitachi Rail UK.
"This very special project demonstrates not only the adaptability of our system but also what's possible when we combine engineering expertise with deep, trusted partnerships across the industry. This kind of collaborative progress, rooted in real-world testing and mutual trust, will continue to drive transformation across the railway sector. The insights we've gained here have created a valuable blueprint for what comes next.
Carrying forward the relationships, lessons, and technical progress from this work will be essential to maintaining momentum for heritage integrations and wider applications across modern rolling stock," added Andy Bell, Vice President, Hitachi Rail UK. While this project breaks new ground in railway technology, it also celebrates the people shaping the next chapter of our industry. Among them is Tom Goulding, now a Senior Systems Engineer at Hitachi Rail and a recent recipient of the IRSE Engineer of the Year Award.
Tom began working on both the Class 43 and Tornado retrofit projects during his time as an apprentice.
His journey embodies the spirit of partnership and continuity that underpins this programme and captures the essence of this year's Railway200 celebrations in the UK: honouring the past while investing in the people, skills and innovation that will power the next 200 years of railway progress.
Transport & Logistics - Driving The Industry Forward