TransPennine railway going digital in £13bn investment

The Government is developing plans for Britain’s first digital intercity railway in the North.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has announced a £13bn investment in improving journeys across the region.

As part of the Great North Rail Project, major upgrades are being developed for the TransPennine route between Manchester, Leeds and York from 2022.  Journey times between Leeds and Manchester will be slashed to 40 minutes from just above an hour.

Digital signalling technology is already in operation on the London Underground, and Network Rail will now develop options to make the TransPennine route the first digitally controlled intercity rail line in the country.

Network Rail will receive up to £5m to develop proposals for embedding digital technology between Manchester and York, to help deliver a more reliable and safer railway, says the Government

This includes looking at a system of advanced train traffic management – so that a computer works out how to route the trains most efficiently along the line.

The Government says it has launched the biggest modernisation programme of railways in the North since the steam age – and is investing £40bn in the network across the country.

Grayling said: “We are about to see a digital revolution in our railways, and we want the north to lead the way.

“New technology on the Manchester to York route will help us deliver a more reliable and safer railway, with more space for passengers.

“Travel will be transformed across the north as we invest £13bn to improve journeys, expand our motorways, scrap the outdated Pacer trains, and spend £55bn on HS2 to cut journey times between our great northern cities.”

Developing proposals for digital-control on the TransPennine route is to be paid for from a £450m digital railway fund announced in the Autumn Statement last year.

Work to deliver improvements to the TransPennine railway line have already begun.

The Great North Rail Project has already delivered improved services between Liverpool and Manchester, with the fastest journey cut by 15 minutes, new direct services between Manchester Airport and Glasgow, and the upgrade of Manchester Victoria station.

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