Wedoany.com Report-Dec.1, Network Rail has successfully completed a two-week trial of the U-Cross real-time train location system on an 11-mile section of the Heart of Wales line between Llandeilo and Llandovery in Wales, United Kingdom. The trial, conducted earlier this month, focused on enhancing safety at 20 user-worked level crossings commonly found on rural routes.

U-Beacon Universal Locator Beacons were positioned along the railway line during the trial.

Developed by Universal Signalling, U-Cross provides signallers with immediate, accurate train-position data. This allows faster and more informed decisions when farmers, landowners, or other authorised users request permission to cross the tracks. Traditionally, signallers rely on multiple information sources, which can cause delays for those waiting.

During the trial, U-Beacon locator devices were installed trackside, while Transport for Wales trains received onboard readers and communication units. Trains automatically reported their positions as they approached or passed each crossing. The system recorded more than 400,000 data points for subsequent performance analysis.

Installation required only two and a half overnight possessions and no preliminary lineside design work, highlighting the system's rapid-deployment capability.

Stephen Head, CEO of Universal Signalling, stated: "U-Cross is the first stepping stone towards our vision for next-generation digital signalling that's affordable for rural lines. What truly sets this apart is the speed of deployment, which drives down cost to the railway.

"We've automated and productionised as much of the process as possible, stripping out much of the cost base. Fitting 11 miles of track in just two and a half overnight possessions, with no prior design work, shows what's possible with our system."

Anthony Aldred, operations manager for Network Rail Wales & Borders, commented: "Managing access to the railway at user-worked crossings is a key part of keeping our network safe for the people and communities who rely on it.

"In rural areas, where signallers rely on information from multiple sources, U-Cross gives them a clear, instant view of train locations and visual confirmation of whether a crossing is safe to use, while defaulting to established procedures if a fault is detected."

The trial was a joint effort between Universal Signalling, Network Rail Wales & Borders, and Transport for Wales, with financial support from the Innovation Acceleration Forum.

Following the positive results, the project team will now evaluate extending U-Cross coverage to the entire 96-mile Heart of Wales line, which has 126 user-worked crossings. If successful, the technology could be considered for additional rural routes across the UK network.

The system was initially demonstrated last year at the Global Centre of Rail Excellence in Onllwyn, South Wales, confirming its potential for cost-effective safety improvements on lower-density lines. The recent trial represents a practical step toward broader implementation of modern digital solutions in rural rail environments.