First ETCS train operates on the East Coast Mainline

[Intercity_225]

Realtime Trains | 5Z01 1123 Crofton Depot to Welwyn G.C. F.D. | 14/06/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Z01 1123 departure from Crofton Depot to Welwyn G.C. F.D. on 14/06/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q80 0715 Welwyn G.C. F.D. to Finsbury Park | 15/06/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q80 0715 departure from Welwyn G.C. F.D. to Finsbury Park on 15/06/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q81 0800 Finsbury Park to Huntingdon Sig P40 | 15/06/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q81 0800 departure from Finsbury Park to Huntingdon Sig P40 on 15/06/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q82 0851 Huntingdon Sig P40 to Finsbury Park | 15/06/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q82 0851 departure from Huntingdon Sig P40 to Finsbury Park on 15/06/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q83 0940 Finsbury Park to Huntingdon Sig P40 | 15/06/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q83 0940 departure from Finsbury Park to Huntingdon Sig P40 on 15/06/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q84 1040 Huntingdon Sig P40 to Finsbury Park | 15/06/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q84 1040 departure from Huntingdon Sig P40 to Finsbury Park on 15/06/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q85 1145 Finsbury Park to Huntingdon Sig P40 | 15/06/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q85 1145 departure from Finsbury Park to Huntingdon Sig P40 on 15/06/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q86 1231 Huntingdon Sig P40 to Finsbury Park | 15/06/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q86 1231 departure from Huntingdon Sig P40 to Finsbury Park on 15/06/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q87 1345 Finsbury Park to Huntingdon Sig P40 | 15/06/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q87 1345 departure from Finsbury Park to Huntingdon Sig P40 on 15/06/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Looks like 180108 will be doing ETCS testing tomorrow.

 

[erikvd28]

Will ETCS increase the capacity of the Northern City Line as well?

 

[Vexed]

Will ETCS increase the capacity of the Northern City Line as well?

It won't be much different to Digswell, yes a small increase but I doubt much of an impact on timetables.

The bigger issue is the lack of services Great Northern is running compared to pre-Covid, which was on the old signalling of course. Which itself was life expired. Aside from Network Rail's ETCS ambitions and the East Coast Digital Programme, the 717s already have ETCS and GTR had previous experience in the Thameslink core so it made sense to replace the old signalling with ETCS, it wasn't done for capacity reasons.

 

[zwk500]

Will ETCS increase the capacity of the Northern City Line as well?

Specifically between Drayton Park and Moor gate, I believe the block markers are exactly where the previous signals were. There will be a small increase in capacity from things like the MA being continuously updated but not a significant step change.

 

[St. Paddy]

Will ETCS increase the capacity of the Northern City Line as well?

Not until the GSMR is upgraded, current limit of 6 trains on level 2 on the NCL at a time

 

[Failed Unit]

It is interesting that realtraintimes still shows signals on the Northern City line. As a passenger you can’t tell the difference (except all 6 coaches now open the doors at Drayton Park). I don’t think it will increase capacity as they don’t like trains leaving stations unless they know they can enter the next station.

Watch one happen next week, however not had any diverts to Kings Cross since it was turned on.

 

[zwk500]

It is interesting that realtraintimes still shows signals on the Northern City line.

That's just a visual thing. Other sites show only the block marker boards now. Presumably given its a like-for-like swap the data hasn't changed for the TD Berths.