26.09.13
West Midlands signalling renewal complete
The final stage of the Walsall and Cannock Lines resignalling programme has been commissioned, Siemens has announced.
The three-year project represented Phase 3 of Network Rail’s West Midlands signalling renewal scheme. Work included replacing over 150 track circuits and upgrading 37 point ends from electro-pneumatic to electro-mechanical mechanisms.
Control for the signalling has now transferred to the West Midlands Signalling Centre at Saltely.
Paul Danks, Network Rail project manager, said: “The new signalling we have invested in, and successfully commissioned will deliver a more reliable services for our passenger and freight customers who use this route. To complete a total number of 22 complicated commissioning stage works is a testament to the skill and professionalism of all involved and highlights the strong and collaborative working relationship between the project teams.”
Stephen Bick, Siemens Rail Automation senior project manager, added: “This has been a truly collaborative project epitomised by an extremely close working relationship with the Network Rail team and other spoke contractors. Solid planning helped the project to run smoothly, including installing and locally testing signalling equipment not associated with the main stage works before the final August 2013 commissioning, leaving minimum works for the blockade itself”.
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