Network Rail 're-signalling Great Western line'

Date: 16/4/2012

Network Rail is undertaking a project to modernise the signalling structure on the Great Western line.

This will be the biggest initiative of its kind ever carried out on the old 1960s system, which will take four years to complete and cost £350 million.

Services travelling through Bristol, Bath, Chippenham, Swindon, Didcot, Reading, Newbury and Oxford will all benefit and the changes could help to reduce delays by up to 50 per cent.

The changes will be made in five stages in a bid to minimise disruption and will begin in the Didcot area.

Network Rail's Route Managing Director for Western Patrick Hallgate explained nearly 30 million journeys are made along the route and this figure is growing by around five per cent every year.

"We are safeguarding the long-term future of a vital rail artery in the south-west of England and Thames Valley," he added.

Last month, the organisation announced it has awarded framework agreements for re-signalling Britain's railway network and has selected European Train Control System Level 2 as a recommended method of carrying out the work.

Posted by Mary Treen