Cambrian steam off until at least 2013 as ERTMS solution sought

摘要

West Coast Railways' Machynlleth-Pwllheli steam charters will not resume this year due to ongoing difficulties with the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) method of signalling. The system was rolled out on the Cambrian routes in March 2011 with the equipment fitted to 24 Class 158 DMUs and three Class 97/3s. However insufficient thought had been given to how the bulky apparatus might be fitted to a steam loco, with the result that the Cambrian trains were cancelled. Principal Project sponsor Jim Morgan admitted that fitting the equipment to steam was "not straightforward." WCR said: "Network Rail has been unable to come up with a practical way of installing ERTMS apparatus to a steam locomotive; it has now left the problem in our hands to see if we can devise a solution.