Departing from Oxford station at 9.43am, a Chiltern Railways Class 168 train made a full journey along the line, travelling via Bicester, Winslow and Bletchley before arriving at Milton Keynes Central at 10.25am. The journey along the entire route took 42 minutes to complete, with the train reaching the full line speed of 100mph on several sections of line.

“This milestone was achieved through thousands of people-hours and the dedication of a large, diverse group of incredibly hardworking, intelligent and committed individuals who united to drive this achievement forward,” said Emmanuel Henry, Managing Director of Digital and Integrated Systems UK and Ireland at Alstom.

He added: “This first successful test run exemplifies the high standards we strive for in every project, combining technical innovation with rigorous teamwork to deliver on a shared vision – including excellent collaboration with Network Rail. Congratulations to everyone involved in reaching this significant signalling milestone, and in setting the stage for the improved and sustainable rail connections that East West Rail will bring to the communities it serves.”

Alstom’s Digital and Integrated Systems (D&IS) team are involved in the activities of providing systems, equipment and services for the transport sector, specialising in rail control systems and infrastructure. To date, Alstom has been involved in some of the UK’s most significant and innovative rail projects including installing Crossrail (Elizabeth line) signalling and slab track works, European Train Control System (ETCS) on the Great Western Main Line, ETCS Baseline 3 R2 First in Class onboard installations and High Speed 1 (HS1).