How to get East Coast Main Line back on track – Yorkshire Post Letters

AS coronavirus restrictions are lifted, it is imperative to stimulate the economy with vital infrastructure projects.

Transport is essential so the welcome announcement that digitalisation of signalling on the East Coast Main Line is to be implemented is a step in the right direction.

This transport-conscious Government has commendably approved £350m of funding to start rolling out the technology on a 100-mile stretch of the line between London King’s Cross and Lincolnshire.

The substantial benefits 
of digital technology enable trains to run closer together, boosting frequency, speed and reliability while eliminating thousands of hours of delays each year.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is contemplating allowing the economy post Covid-19 to reap the advantage of the digitalisation of technology that will eventually serve all the rail network.

Rail travellers on the East Coast line are often left infuriated and exasperated by the frequent breakdown in the current Victorian signalling.

Digitalisation of signalling will undoubtedly increase reliability, punctuality and train speed, resulting in increasing passenger satisfaction and comfort.

The Department for Transport has recently announced that a new three-year deal has been given to the London North Eastern Railway to continue to run services on the East Coast line.

LNER is currently overseen by the DfT’s operator of last resort so it will now run trains until 2023.

As the economy begins to recover from the coronavirus pandemic, now is not the 
right time to be offering new 
rail-franchise arrangements.

The East Coast line 
requires a period of stability as the rail network attracts passengers back, so leaving 
the franchise with LNER is infinitely a sensible direction at this time.

As more passengers return to the rail network, reliability, punctuality and value for money will be of paramount importance.

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James Mitchinson, Editor