DB Cargo UK has awarded Siemens Mobility a contract to equip nine Class 66 locomotives with the European Train Control System (ETCS). The retrofit work is scheduled to begin in July 2025 at Toton Traction Maintenance Depot in the East Midlands and is expected to be completed by March 2026.
The first phase falls under the East Coast Digital Programme, a EUR 1.7 billion project that will replace traditional lineside signals with in-cab digital signalling technology.
Siemens Mobility, the designated partner for the East Coast Digital Programme, will integrate its Trainguard 200 Onboard system into the locomotives. The transition is intended to enable ERTMS operation on the East Coast Main Line and other freight corridors.
Preparations for the retrofit have started at Toton, with infrastructure adjustments underway, including the installation of a new load bank, wash plant, overhead cranes, and additional staff accommodation for Siemens personnel on-site.
DB Cargo UK previously conducted ETCS testing on Class 66 locomotive 66039 at Network Rail’s Rail Innovation and Development Centre. The upcoming fleet-wide installation follows this initial deployment and is part of the wider effort to introduce digital signalling technology across the freight sector.
