Wednesday 12 Jul 2006
£250 MILLION INVESTMENT SIGNALS THE FUTURE FOR EAST MIDLANDS PASSENGERS
- Region & Route:
Passengers in the East Midlands are set to benefit as Network Rail kicks off a £250 million project to improve the railway in the region. Over the next six years, signalling throughout the region will be completely renewed and a new state-of-the-art signalling centre will be built at Derby. The first phase will see Network Rail investing £15 million to renew the signalling between Leicester and Nuneaton. The existing 100 year old equipment will be replaced with a modern colour light system, while track equipment will also be renewed as part of the project. The improvements will double capacity on the line, giving train operators more flexibility to run a better service for passengers. Tom Birch, Network Rail’s Area General Manager for the East Midlands said: “This is the first major re-signalling project in the area for many years. It will reduce delays by improving the reliability of the railway for passengers throughout the East Midlands and beyond. The investment we are making will bring long-term benefits to the region by providing a better rail network.” The Leicester to Nuneaton project will require a series of weekend closures of the line on 15-16, 22-23 and 29-30 July while engineers work to complete the project. The level crossing at Narborough station will also be closed to road traffic for 9 days between 22 and 31 July. Network Rail is working with train operating companies and the local highways authority to ensure passengers and motorists are fully informed of alternations to their journeys. Passengers are advised to check travel details in advance by contacting National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 or www.nationalrail.co.uk.
Notes to editors
The Leicester – Nuneaton project will provide 4 new signals between Hinckley and Croft allowing for additional capacity on the line. The signal boxes at Narborough (1875) and Hinckley (1894) will be abolished with signalling operations for the line transferring to an upgraded signal box at Croft. Narborough Level Crossing will be upgraded to a CCTV crossing Network Rail will ensure residents affected by the works are informed of plans and is liaising with train operating companies with regard to timetable alterations from 2007 The next phases in the project include: • East Midlands Control Centre (EMCC): Construction of the EMCC at Bateman Street in Derby starts this summer and the centre will open in Winter 2007. The centre will eventually control all signalling operations throughout the East Midlands • North Erewash (Trowell to Chesterfield): New junctions will be built at Trowell and Ironville and several signal boxes will be abolished as signalling operations move into the EMSC. Work will be completed by Spring 2008 • South Erewash: The first phase between Trowell and Toton will be completed towards the end of 2008 while the Toton to Loughborough and Spondon to Beeston sections will be completed by the end of 2009 • Work at Nottingham Station starts in 2010 and will include new signalling for the Robin Hood Line, the complete re-signalling of the station area and improvements to the track layout. The project is expected to be completed by 2012 • Post 2013: projects to renew the signalling in the rest of the East Midlands route including Leicester, Derby, West Hampstead and the routes from Nottingham to Newark Castle, Grantham and Peterborough
Contact information
Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41
Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries
Journalists
Network Rail press office -London North Eastern & East Midlands route
01904 383180
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We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.
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