As part of the research programme "Digital Command, Control and Signalling (CCS)", DB Netz develops the Automatic Train Protection system of the future to be able to operate up to 20% more trains using existing railway infrastructure. One pillar of Digital CSS is ETCS Level 3, which is based on the concept of virtual blocks rather than fixed blocks with signals.
On September 6th, 2018, a demonstration of ETCS Level 3 technology was performed in the new Living Lab of DB Netz (in the area of Annaberg-Buchholz) in cooperation with Thales and Bombardier. For the dynamic demonstration, a VT420 rail car modified as a digital lab was used together with Pressnitztalbahn locomotive 285 104-2.
