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Friday 7 Feb 2025

Cutting edge signalling system ready to run trains on new East West Rail infrastructure

Region & Route:

North West & Central: West Coast Mainline South

| North West & Central

Network Rail signallers are poised to welcome trains on the new East West Rail route between Oxford and Milton Keynes using some of the latest technology to help make rail journeys reliable.

The signalling technology used on the new railway line is the first of its kind in Britain, at the point of commissioning in October 2024, offering improved reliability for passengers and freight services.

A brand new workstation has been created at Network Rail’s Rugby rail operating centre, where the West Coast Main Line – Europe’s busiest mixed use railway – is controlled from. The ‘Claydon workstation’ is equipped with very the latest systems and software with support from AtkinsRéalis’ Advanced Signalling Method (ASM), benefitting from high capacity fibre connectivity to ensure trains run safely and reliably.*

The new rail route has created six jobs for newly qualified signallers in Rugby with a plan to expand the team when future phases of East West Rail are built.

Network Rail with its East West Rail Alliance Partners; AtkinsRéalis, Laing O’Rourke and VolkerRail completed building the £1.2bn investment in ‘Connection Stage One’ (CS1) of the project in October 2024. Since then, Network Rail has been collaborating with the DfT and its industry partners to run test trains and prepare the infrastructure for future passenger and freight services.

The new signalling infrastructure boasts:

• 59 new signals.
• 154,490 metres of signalling cable.
• 41 miles of track.
• 18 points (to direct trains at junctions).
• 71 axle counter sections (to detect available track) using 96 axle counter heads.
• 54 signalling location cases.

Gary Walsh, route director for West Coast South, said: “We’re pleased to welcome further test trains on the brand new East West Rail route between Milton Keynes and Oxford, where future passenger and freight services will benefit from some of the most advanced signalling technology in use on the British rail network.

“Whilst testing continues, I want to remind local people about how to stay safe on the railway which means keeping off the tracks and using level crossings safely.”

Testing and training will continue to take place over the coming months. While there is no designated freight route on the infrastructure yet, freight operators can now use the track when needed.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "We’re committed to transforming rail connectivity across the country. We are proud to have completed the build of this highly anticipated route, improving transport connections between Oxford and Milton Keynes.  

“We are now following usual procedure and working with partners and train providers to start passenger services as quickly as possible.”

Mark James, Alliance director for East West Rail Alliance, said: “We are extremely proud to have been a part of returning this railway line from Bicester to Bletchley back to the mainline passenger network for the first time in 50 years. We look forward to seeing passengers using the new infrastructure, connecting the communities along the route and facilitating east west rail journeys.”

Network Rail is reminding local people about the importance of adhering to railway safety rules:

• Never walk on or cross the tracks.
• Don’t interact with any railway infrastructure, including overhead lines and power supplies.
• Use level crossings correctly and respect safety barriers where applicable.

Future services will better connect passengers and will have the potential to help unlock economic growth and create new opportunities across the region.

Work to open the new route between Milton Keynes and Oxford has been completed in time for the Railway’s 200th Anniversary year.

Railway 200, marks the bi-centenary of the invention of the first passenger railway between Darlington and Stockton in September 1825.