History is being made on the UK’s railways this week as testing commences for the world’s first operational steam locomotive equipped with cutting-edge ETCS (European Train Control System) digital signalling technology.
The iconic steam engine Tornado, a modern build from 2008, is spearheading the charter and heritage pathfinder project for the East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP). In this Railway 200 anniversary year, the ambitious project is seamlessly blending the engineering marvel of the 19th century with the digital signalling prowess of the 21st.
This pathfinder initiative aims to ensure all facets of the railway network can benefit from digital transformation. The introduction of digital signalling, initially on the East Coast Main Line, promises a more efficient, reliable, and safer railway with reduced emissions.
Crucially, the heritage pathfinder seeks to safeguard the future enjoyment of mainline steam and heritage diesel operations for generations to come. Heritage rail plays a significant role in the UK’s tourism sector, contributing over £600 million annually.
The groundbreaking fitment is the result of a dynamic collaboration between Hitachi Rail (onboard equipment), AtkinsRealis (fitment design), the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust (loco owners), and Network Rail (integration). The project has navigated considerable engineering hurdles, including electrical supply, braking management, bi-directional running, and ensuring a user-friendly interface within the challenging environment of a steam locomotive – often noisy, dusty, rainy, and subject to vibrations.
The overnight test runs this week are taking place on the Cambrian line between Shrewsbury and Newtown in Mid Wales. Notably, the Cambrian line was an early adopter of ETCS in the UK, with its pilot scheme completed in 2011. Special trains operator West Coast Railway is running the test trains, with expertise provided by Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) in the form of dedicated test train officers on each journey. This phase of testing is scheduled to conclude on Thursday, 17th April.
The dynamic testing process is designed to yield valuable learnings. Any issues and challenges identified during this phase will undergo thorough analysis. Later this year, the heritage diesel pathfinder locomotive, Deltic ‘Royal Scots Grey’, is also slated for dynamic testing on the Cambrian line. Further refinement and assurance processes will follow before any mainline heritage operation under ETCS Level Two can be realised.
Ed Akers, Network Rail’s industry partnership director for ECDP, highlighted the significance of the project:
“The innovation and expertise delivered through the Tornado pathfinder has provided significant learnings for our programme, applicable for fitment across a range of fleets.
“The pathfinder project reflects the ‘whole railway’ nature of our collaborative ECDP partnership. This week’s testing is an important stage in a process to determine the technical and commercial feasibility of fitment for heritage and charter fleets.”
Andy Bell, vice president of Hitachi Rail UK, underscored the pioneering nature of the work:
“Tornado’s retrofit with our ETCS is a world-first that has tested our technology in one of the most complex operating environments. This very special project demonstrates not only the adaptability of Hitachi Rail’s system but also what’s possible when we respect the past while designing for what’s next, combining engineering expertise with deep, trusted partnerships across the industry.
“The lessons we’ve learned here have created a valuable blueprint for future projects. Carrying forward the relationships, insights, and technical progress from this work will be essential to maintaining momentum, not only for heritage integrations but for wider applications across modern rolling stock as well.”
Alejandro Moreno, AtkinsRéalis market director – rail & transit, UK & Ireland, emphasised the unique engineering challenges involved:
“Steam locomotives are more than just machines, they’re living, breathing monuments to British innovation. We had to find creative solutions to integrate modern technology in an environment which is noisy, dusty, hot and exposed – all the while preserving Tornado’s authentic character and enabling operation on the digital railway. This world-first project will benefit the entire sector, demonstrating how a collaborative pathfinder approach can solve complex fitment challenges across our evolving railway.”
Rob Morland, electrical engineer for The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, expressed his organisation’s pride in being part of the project:
“We are very pleased that Tornado was selected as the world’s first operational steam locomotive be fitted with ETCS, and have been actively engaged in providing a platform for testing ETCS in this challenging environment.
“We have extended Tornado’s already comprehensive electrical system to provide the additional power required. This has included the fitment of a second steam turbogenerator, a new axle driven alternator and a third battery bank, dedicated to ETCS. The system is designed to provide a very reliable electrical supply to meet in full the availability requirements of a modern onboard digital signalling system.
“We’ve also supported the mechanical and design work, undertaking changes to both the tender and engine, and supported the work to install, commission and test the system.”
Matthew Teller, head of systems integration for ERTMS at GTR and one of the test train officers, highlighted the collaborative spirit of the initiative:
“This has been both a thrilling experience and a real privilege to support the wider industry in the deployment of ETCS. Having introduced digital signalling on commuter services in London, Govia Thameslink Railway has become an experienced industry leader in ETCS testing, so we’re delighted to be able to collaborate in this way.”
