ETCS

A yet to be brought into use ETCS Block Marker Board

ETCS (European Train Control System) is an international railway signalling designed to allow interoperable services with reduced difficultly.

Lines with ETCS

Currently in the UK these are the only lines with ETCS.

• Cambrian Line
• Northern City Line
• Thameslink core
• East Coast Main Line (Stoke Tunnel Junction to London Kings Cross
• Great Western Main Line (Ealing Broadway to West Drayton, Heathrow T4 and Heathrow T5)

Levels

ETCS has different levels of operation

Level 0

Level 0 is no signalling.

Level NTC

Level NTC (National Train Control) is the existing signalling systems e.g. AWS, TPWS and CBTC.

Level 1

Level 1 is classic signalling with ETCS doing the train protection in a similar way to BR ATP.

Level 2

Level 2 is where all of the signalling is done by via ETCS with the option to remove lineside signals,

Level 3

Level 3 was a moving block signals away version of ETCS however this is now part of Level 2.