Railtrack plc

Railtrack lets another resignalling design contract to new supplier
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date 10 November 1997
source Railtrack plc
type Press release

Railtrack has let a second signalling design and development contract to a new supplier. Following the company's award of the Peterborough-Nuneaton contract to Italian/French-owned CSEE Transport last week, Railtrack has today announced that the design/development contract for the resignalling of the Cromer line, in Norfolk, has been won by Ware-based Vaughan Harmon Systems Ltd.

Although US-owned Vaughan Harmon has supplied equipment to the railway industry for many years, this is the first time they have been awarded a total resignalling design contract in the UK.

The contract, which will consist of two halves, is worth in total almost ?million. Vaughan Harmon is being asked to provide designs for a complete new signalling system and updated level crossings on the 29 mile mainly single line between Whitlingham Junction, near Norwich, and Sheringham.

Being looked at is:-

o Transfer of control of line to either Colchester or Whitlingham (Norwich)
o Installation of a processor-based interlocking controller
o Renewal of 3 existing automatic level crossings
o Automation of 4 level crossings

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.

Vaughan Harmon was chosen following a tendering process which included companies from the UK, Europe and the US.

Railtrack has developed a number of partnership projects to introduce additional suppliers and new technology into the UK signalling market. Phase one of the Cromer project will investigate the suitability of installing an American microprocessor-based interlocking and level crossing control system. Whilst this is the first time that the system will have been used anywhere in Europe it has been used extensively in North America and other worldwide locations.

Brian Mellitt, Railtrack's director of engineering and production commented:-

"In order for us to meet our commitment to achieve the ?million a day spend on the railway's infrastructure, it is important that we bring international suppliers into the arena. This will enable us to benefit from any new and established technology developed outside of the UK and will help us to get the best possible value from our investments.

"Vaughan Harmon has met our specification for phase one which could result in technology being brought to our railway network which has been tried and tested elsewhere in the world."

Railhub Archive ::: 1997-11-10 RTK-002