27.08.20
23-days of upgrade work around Clacton-on-Sea
Reliability and safety to be dramatically improved for passengers in the Clacton-on-Sea area when a computer-based signalling system goes live next spring, including a 23-day stretch of intensive engineering works during February and March 2021.
The railway between Thorpe-le-Soken and Clacton-on-Sea is being upgraded with new computer-based signals. This will replace the old system which uses mechanical levers and pullies to change signals and track points, to allow trains to switch between tracks. The new system will be controlled from a powered signal box at Colchester.
The work carried out by Network Rail is to allow for a safer, more reliable railway, improving the passenger experience, providing better live passenger information and recovering quicker if the system fails.
During the 23-day works from 20 Feb and 14 March, changes will also be made to the overhead line equipment, and the track layout will be altered and updated to cater for a modern railway with powered switches and crossing controlled by the new signals.
Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s Route Director for Anglia, said: “We will deliver a significant package of works during a three-week period in February and March 2021.
“I’m sorry for the disruption that 23 days of engineering works will cause for passengers. Completing these large-scale projects and maintenance in one coordinated effort, will help reduce the overall amount of disruption and deliver a safer, modern and reliable railway for many years to come.”
Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia Managing Director, said: “We know that our customers would rather travel by train than bus, but we will make sure they are still able to complete their journeys, even if part of it is by bus, during this major works.
“Together with Network Rail we are transforming rail travel in Essex, as they modernise the signalling and track and we are introducing brand new longer state-of-the-art trains to replace every single one of our old trains across the whole of our network.”
You can find a full list of dates for the works here.
Images: Network Rail