Alstom is celebrating after it successfully delivered new innovative signalling, first-of-type level crossings and other assets between Farncombe in Surrey and Petersfield in Hampshire on the Portsmouth Direct line.
The £49 million project has upgraded a section of UK railway built more than 150 years ago with much-needed technology enhancements that offers greater reliability for passengers and freight operators, improves asset performance for Network Rail, and makes the line safer for track workers.
The project forms part of the Major Signalling Framework Agreement (MSFA) for the Southern Region which Alstom secured in 2020. In partnership with Network Rail, Alstom and its supply chain, the project has renewed assets and introduced digital-ready technologies including:
- Eleven level crossing were upgraded for enhanced safety and reliability
- Control of the area’s signalling transferred from three local signal boxes to Network Rail’s Basingstoke Rail Operating Centre (ROC) using Alstom's modular remote signalling control;
- Alstom’s digital interlockings have increased reliability, performance and capacity;
- Track circuits replaced with axle counters; delivering a 50% power saving across the project area and improved safety for trackside maintenance staff
During a nine-day closure between Guildford and Havant in November 2025, Alstom engineers tested 90 new LED signals, laid over 30 km of new cable and brought 17 new object controllers (SmartIO) and equipment housings brought into use.
Alstom’s SmartIO is a digital system that connects trackside equipment like signals and points directly to a central control system, making railway signalling safer, more efficient and easier to maintain. The trackside equipment housing does not require air conditioning, heating or domestic power supplies, and is therefore helping reduce both carbon emissions and costs for its users.
Meanwhile, work on seven level crossings by Alstom saw new obstacle-detection technology introduced – with the final one made operational during the first weekend in December – and two had CCTV technology installed to improve safety for road users and give signallers clearer visibility of the line. Additionally, two foot crossings received miniature warning stop lights (MSL).
“Alstom has been proud to partner on one the most significant investments ever made on the Portsmouth Direct line, replacing life-expired equipment with cutting-edge technology that will transform reliability and performance for years to come. By introducing digital-ready signalling and advanced level crossing systems, we’ve not only modernised a route that dates back more than 150 years, but we have also created a foundation for the digital railway of the future,” said Emmanuel Henry, Digital and Integrated Systems Managing Director UK and Ireland at Alstom.
“I’m incredibly proud of the team’s achievement in delivering this complex programme safely and efficiently. The work was completed by Alstom colleagues during a nine-day closure with zero injuries – everyone went home safe. This success reflects the strength of our partnership with Network Rail and our supply chain, along with our shared commitment to innovation, sustainability and passenger experience.”
The Alstom programme was the final piece of Network Rail’s wider £129 million Portsmouth Direct Upgrade. This has seen major improvements made to the line between London Waterloo and Portsmouth Harbour, which encompasses one of the UK’s busiest commuter routes.
“Since early 2022, we’ve been delivering a major programme of upgrades along the Portsmouth Direct line. This £129 million investment brings the route firmly into the modern era, with new signalling and safer level crossings that will make journeys more reliable and reduce the need for future closures. We’d like to thank passengers for their patience while this long-term work was completed to improve journeys between Portsmouth and London,” said Tom Desmond, Operations Director at Network Rail.
Alstom’s Onvia mainline signalling portfolio is at the forefront of digital railway transformation, driven by continuous R&D and close alignment with evolving industry regulations. With over 300 ETCS (European Train Control System) projects, 25,000 onboard units and 23,000 km of lines equipped worldwide, Onvia delivers certified, future-ready solutions tailored to the unique needs of each customer. As part of a global product family, Onvia empowers operators to achieve new levels of safety, reliability and efficiency – setting the standard for tomorrow’s rail networks.
Image credits: Alstom
