>>1251699For the most part, there's very little that can be done with regards to this.
In the UK, steam locomotives have to fitted with AWS and TPWS to be legally allowed to run on the mainlines.
In Ireland, the law allows for steam locomotives to be exempted from having CAWS.
In Germany, steam locomotives have to be fitted with PZB 90, and while a lot of steam locomotives were initally fitted with Induzi, which was a precusor system, PZB 90 is a software upgrade to the system.
In France, steam locomotives have to be fitted with KVB in order to operate on the conventional lines, even though Le Crocodile is still in use in some parts of France as a form of redundancy.
In Scotland, the Radio Electronic Token Block system's implementation meant that any trains going into Scottish Highland lines needed to have a radio system and RETB system as well. This includes Steam Locomotives, which have managed to fit both inside.
In Wales, the Cambrian Line replaced its RETB system with a ETCS Level 2 system, in order to allow for a modernised signalling system. No steam locomotive has run on the Cambrian Line since the introduction of the ETCS system as it would mandate not only the metrification of the dials and instruments on board for km/h, but would also necessitate a digital display system to be able to indicate cab signalling for movement authority and speed limits.
With the modernisation of train protection systems, it's going to be much harder to have steam trains which don't have some kind of modern cab signalling, especially in Europe as ETCS starts taking over. ETCS Level 1 is being implemented across several rail corridors in Europe, but new lines are getting Level 2. It's only a matter of time before Level 3 starts being implemented.
