Reply to post:

"UK tests of the European Rail Traffic Management System have already begun ahead of the expected rollout."

Yes, since nearly 5 years, and it still doesn't work properly. It was commissioned on October 2010 between Harlech and Pwllheli, and in March 2011 for the rest of the Cambrian (between Sutton Bridge Junction, Shrewsbury, and Harlech/Aberystwyth). Failures of axle counters were common, as were GSM-R failure (the whole system is reliant on a constant data connection back to ERTMS control in Machynlleth over GSM-R). Even now, GSM-R issues still exist when trying to send a loco down to Aberystwyth, so they try to avoid it if they can. When GSM-R goes down (which it does, famously due to a power outage at Swindon of all places), the entire Cambrian grinds to a complete halt, and nothing can move until GSM-R comes back up again.

AFAIK the ERTMS kit inside the train is still FPGA. I do have some tasty photos of the ERTMS equipment racks inside one of the locos, but I can't make them public, I'm afraid.

I've been following the roll-out and testing of the project here:

http://www.mylordz.com/index.php?/category/4

http://www.blurb.co.uk/b/4531371-the-21st-century-cambrian-railway

The fitting of the equipment into the passenger trains can be seen here: http://www.mylordz.com/index.php?/category/45

(Shameless plugs, I know, but it gives a comprehensive background to what's been taking place around here.)