Siemens Mobility to Begin ETCS Rollout with DB Cargo UK

Siemens Mobility has been awarded a major contract for the fitting of the new European Train Control System (ETCS) to Class 66 freight vehicles in the UK.

The contract, which was signed with DB Cargo UK, will see Siemens Mobility tasked with the integration and installation of its Trainguard 200 Onboard system to nine DB Class 66 locomotives, with work set to begin this July.

All work is set to be carried out at the DB Cargo UK’s Toton Traction Maintenance Depot located in the East Midlands, and is forecasted to be complete in March 2026.

DB Cargo UK’s Head of Asset Management and Maintenance Jon Harman, said:

Having recently played a significant part in the ‘first-in-class’ fitment of ETCS on one of our own Class 66 locomotives (66039), which has recently undergone dynamic testing at Network Rail’s Rail Innovation and Development Centre, we are looking forward to continuing our collaboration with Siemens to install the new technology in further locomotives.

The contract forms a part of the first phase of a national programme to retrofit all locomotives throughout the UK with the new in-cab signalling system as part of the European Rail Traffic Management System’s (ERTMS) introduction.

The initial rollout of ERTMS is set to be delivered as part of the 1.4 billion GBP East Coast Digital Programme (ECDP), and will see traditional lineside signals replaced with the new, digital system across the line.

Emily Woodward, Network Rail’s Senior Sponsor (Freight) for ECDP, said:

This is an exciting step on the journey to a digital railway, which will contribute to rail freight’s growth by helping freight trains operate more efficiently on the network.

We welcome the collaboration and innovation as our partners progress the pioneering work of fitting freight locos for the next generation railway.