New digital era dawns for train traffic control through Crewe

Passenger and freight trains are now benefitting from a once in a generation overhaul of the signalling system serving one of Britain’s busiest railway junctions.

Network Rail’s £190m investment in Crewe has seen improvements to track, lineside equipment and digital signalling installed at Basford Hall freight depot and the lines which connect it to the West Coast main line.

On Friday 3rd January all systems went live with full control of the new signalling successfully switched to the state-of-the-art Rail Operating Centre in Manchester.

It's the culmination of two years’ work which this Christmas saw three traditional signal boxes retired from service and replaced by the latest digital technology already directing trains across much of the North West.

The work has seen:

• 65 new LED signals installed
• 6 new structures built to display them for drivers
• 24km of new signalling power cable
• 30km of fibreoptic cabling connecting everything together
• 7 new buildings to house control systems
• 5 km of railway drainage renewals
• 74 sets of points upgraded including heating systems to stop them freezing in cold weather

The significant signalling upgrade needed a phased closure of the railway in Crewe over the festive period.

It saw changes to passenger journeys over 10 days, and involved one of the largest rail replacement bus operations the town has ever seen.

Network Rail worked closely with Avanti West Coast for many months on detailed plans to keep passengers moving over the Christmas closure.

Crewe Alexandra FC’s car park at Gresty Road became the base for the rail replacement operation – with 400 coaches carrying customers on December 27 alone.

As the work progressed the railway gradually reopened in four stages – with all lines returning to normal service this morning.

Christian Irwin, Network Rail’s North West and Central region Capital Delivery director, said: 

“Today is the start of a new era for the way we signal freight and passenger trains through Crewe - one of the busiest junctions on Britain’s railway. This major investment, using the latest technology, benefits both passengers and freight, getting people and goods to where they need to be more smoothly and reliably.

“We know that over Christmas this has caused disruption for passengers and we’d like to thank you for bearing with us while we made these crucial Crewe upgrades which will improve future journeys for years to come.”

Louise Ward, Freightliner safety and sustainability director, said: 

“Basford Hall is one of our big hub locations – it’s the point where we join freight trains which are going on to London and where we split trains which are going up to the North of the country. 

“The resignalling is all about making the railway as efficient and resilient as it can possibly be.  This major investment will make sure that freight and people get to where they need to be, when they need to be there.”

Chris Liptrot, Avanti West Coast operations director, said: 

“We’re excited the upgrades to the signalling system at Crewe are now complete and would like to thank customers for their patience and understanding, as well as Crewe Alexandra Football Club for their efforts to support those making rail journeys, while Network Rail carried out these works.

“Modernising the signals at a key hub on our network is an important milestone for the railway and will help to make journeys on the West Coast Main Line more reliable for decades to come.”

For more information on how Network Rail upgrades its signalling equipment, visit: 

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/looking-after-the-railway/signalling/

The contractors on the project were:

• Siemens which carried out all the signalling, associated civils works,  electrical and plan, and telecoms.
• Central Rail Systems Alliance (CRSA) carried out the track upgrade work, drainage renewal and OLE modifications.

The Basford Hall independent lines in Crewe take freight trains around Crewe station and back onto the West Coast Main Line, so services can efficiently transport essential goods up and down the country.

The infrastructure has been upgraded to make sure cargo can be delivered safely and reliably for years to come. There has been important drainage and track work, and a full resignalling in the area, to modernise the “traffic” system.

The three signal boxes which have been decommissioned are:

• Salop Goods signal box
• Basford Hall Junction signal box
• Crewe Sorting Sidings North signal box

Pictured - Aerial shot of Crewe Basford Hall Freight Depot.