Railtrack plc

Signalling design contract let for Norwich-Sheringham line
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date 10 November 1997
source Railtrack plc
type Press release

The first phase of a plan which could modernise the Norwich-Sheringham 'Bittern' line has been announced today by Railtrack, the rail infrastructure owner.

The company has today let the first phase of a contract, which could be worth in total nearly £6 million, to American-owned signalling supplier, Vaughan Harmon Systems Ltd, to design and develop a complete new signalling system for the 29 mile route between Whitlingham Junction and Sheringham.

The first phase, planned to start in January 1998, involves detailed design and development work. Phase two will involve manufacture, installation and commissioning of the new signalling system. This will commence once design work is complete and so long as the proposed new equipment is given safety approval to be installed in the UK.

Being looked at is:-

o Transfer of control of line to either Colchester or Whitlingham (Norwich)
o Installation of computer-based signalling equipment
o Renewal of 3 existing automatic level crossings
o Automation of 4 level crossings

Michael Holden, Railtrack East Anglia's director commented, "We are delighted to announcement the first phase of what could be a significant investment by Railtrack in one of Norfolk's most rural routes. The current signalling system will be getting to the end of its useful life in the next few years and is getting increasingly time-consuming and costly to maintain.

"Vaughan Harmon was chosen from a number of companies, based in the UK, Europe and the US. If we approve their design proposals, technology could be coming to our railway network which has been tried and tested both in America and around the world", he added.

Railhub Archive ::: 1997-11-10 RTK-001