The Digital Railway Programme and ProRail, the Netherlands national railway operator, have agreed a strategic partnership to speed-up delivery of ERTMS and the development of the next generation of digital train control and signalling.

 The agreement means that the two organisations will together as they deliver the modern digital equivalent of traditional ‘fixed-block’ signalling to deliver more trains, better connections, and greater reliability on existing infrastructure.

The two organisations have committed to share knowledge on ways to ensure that current technology delivers maximum benefit, and to collaborate on research and development activities to help make the next generation of digital technology available to national railways within a decade.

A live next generation technology demonstrator is planned by 2017.

Martin Arter, Programme Development Director at Digital Railway said:

“Embracing modern digital technology and leveraging the benefits that brings is essential for any modern railway. Old technology is limiting our ability to deliver more trains, more connections and greater reliability, so we must accelerate our rate of change. By working together, Digital Railway and ProRail are helping to secure maximum benefit from the digital revolution in rail and help set the agenda for the future.”