It is shocking how much money is wasted. The TMS for TBROC was for the Thameslink route. However, it failed on many things. It did not encompass the whole area, Just Luton to Brighton. It could not communicate with TRUST/TOPS so did not know where trains where outside of the TMS area. Too much was being tried in one go. Instead of getting a stand alone TMS to work, they tried to get it all singing all dancing at once. There are other TMS in use on Network Rail that work.
ETCS is good. Having seen it in opertion on the Thameslink Core route. The Core using ETCS Level 2. Here I think the railway missed a trick, they should have gone full Level 3 , would have been the perfect test bed. When ETCS Level 2 is up and running it is great, with ATO added even better because trains all move, brake and accelerate at best performance. The combination allows trains to travel closer together providing more pathways with better performance. But there again it is a costly exercise the railway structure is set up. Network Rail provides the infrastructure, the TOCs provide the trains. So Network Rail provides ECTS Level 2, the TOCs have to train all their drivers, have all their traction correct converted. This entails time and money. So as an interim, Network Rail has to have both ECTS Level 2 running alongside conventional signalling. Drivers need to be trained, traction converted, takes years. I have no idea who pays for this but the costs must be horrendous. Even now, many years after ETCS Level 2 being overlaid on conventional signalling through the Thameslink Core, there is not 100% of trains in ETCS. And recently, software has needed to be updates on the 700 units, cost in the millions! It makes you wonder if Network Rail had its equivalent of the BR Research Centre if costs would not have been a lot lower? Watch what hapens on the ECML out of Kings Crss. Currently having ETCS Level 2 overlaid the existing signalling. The number of TOCs that use the route, numbers of drivers and traction. How long will it be before the ECML is signal free? ETCS will deliver benefits, but it will take years, maybe a decade or more to finally get there, money permitting.