TRU ETCS GRIP 4 -8 Delivery Market Consultation – Technical Feasibility

Network Rail wishes to consult the market to understand the technical feasibility of a potential approach to deliver the ETCS outputs for TRU. We are specifically looking to understand the market capability with regards to a potential option to interface between the existing Computer Based Interlockings (CBI) and the Radio Block Centres (RBC)s associated with an ETCS system. At this stage, Network Rail has no intention to inform, share or test any other aspects of any proposed procurement process for ETCS delivery on TRU. If required, this market engagement will be advertised separately. Network Rail seeks to consult with relevant market providers, with associated expertise, to respond to the following questions only: 1) If you currently provide/ are installing a CBI across the TRU geography, what detailed technical information and support would you share with Network Rail and any potential future ETCS supplier to facilitate the interface to the RBC required by an ETCS system? 2) Should a RBC be required to interface with an established interlocking on TRU, what products do you supply/ install to achieve this technical interface, or are you developing any relevant products to achieve the same output? 3) Does your organisation have any future plans to develop a product to achieve the proposed RBC/CBI interface described above? 4) If no current interface exists and the appetite is to work collaboratively with other suppliers what is the preferred mechanism? (Supplier Lead Development, Licenses, sub-contract interface)