Vital upgrade work carried out over Christmas as East Coast Main Line heads for digital future

Over the Christmas period, Network Rail teams carried out vital engineering work between Welwyn Garden City and Hitchin as part of the billion-pound East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP).

Teams of engineers worked around the clock from Christmas Eve to the early hours of today (Wednesday 27 December) to install new track, upgrade existing overhead line equipment, and test newly installed equipment which will help the East Coast Main Line deliver a digital future.

The landmark project is a first-of-its-kind on a UK mainline railway and will eventually see traditional lineside signals replaced by digital signalling which is fed to a screen inside a train driver’s cab.

As a result, passengers will be able to travel on a more reliable and resilient rail network which is kinder to the environment.

Sarah Hewlett, Network Rail’s Programme Manager for East Coast Digital Project, said: “Our engineers worked incredibly hard over the festive period to deliver these vital upgrades which will change the way that trains will run in the future.

“Digital signalling will make our rail network more reliable and more resilient for our passengers, as well as decarbonising it.

“We want to thank passengers for their patience and understanding while the work was carried out.”

A spokesperson on behalf of train operators said: “Our colleagues worked tirelessly to keep customers on the move on Christmas Eve, ahead of the usual Christmas shut down of services.

“A huge thank you to all our customers for their patience while their journeys looked a little differently.”

Further upgrade work as part of ECDP is set to take place on the weekends of 6 & 7 and 13 & 14 January. There will be changes to train services and passengers are encouraged to check their journey before travelling through National Rail Enquiries or with their train operator.