Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are requiring all new-build passenger coaches to be equipped with compatible European Train Control System equipment to reduce the delays and costs of retrofitting.

The Department for Transport’s current policy is to require that all newly-built rolling stock meet the industry standards either for full fitment or to be made ready for European Train Control System (ETCS) fitment. Full fitment is appropriate where trains will be operating over routes fitted with ETCS signalling. ‘Made ready’ is appropriate to reduce the delays and costs of retrofitting once a route has been identified as being part of a fully funded ETCS deployment plan. This ensures that, when fitted, the trains will have the latest version of software compatible with the infrastructure equipment being deployed and that costly upgrades to trains fitted with out-of-date software are avoided.