Following the upgrade of the line and the doubling from Old Dalby to Stanton, trials related to the new European Train Control System (ETCS) took place, using two former class 309 Clacton units.

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The Class 960 Units were based at the former control centre at Old Dalby

The next phase of development at Old Dalby was to have tested the technology and equipment aspects of the Level 2 "no lineside signals" variant of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) recommended by the April 2002 expert team report, endorsed by the Health and Safety Commission in 2003.

However since the demise of Alstom the line appears to have been mothballed and there is currently no news of any proposed ETCS testing at the test track.

The first trial installation on Network Rail will be on the Cambrian lines between Shrewsbury , Aberystwyth and Pwhelli which is planned to be up and running by early 2007.but it has been very quiet on this front recently. In late 2006 it was announced that NR had let the contract for the equipment to the Italian firm of Ansaldo and by the end of 2007 the conversion of a Class 158 unit was underway. NR have also acquired four class 37 locos to be similarly converted,

If you want to know about the original Old Dalby set up for ETCS testing look here.