Media centre

Monday 15 Mar 2021

More reliable services around Clacton-on-Sea following 23-days of engineering work

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

Network Rail has completed 23-days of intensive works in the Clacton-on-Sea area to replace the Victorian signalling system with a modern, computer-based system.

The new computer-based signalling system will control the movement of trains more effectively and provide better live passenger information. This has replaced a system that used mechanical pullies and levers to change signals and track points, to allow trains to switch between tracks.

Clacton signal box is due to be removed at the end of April as the new system is controlled from a powered signal box at Colchester.

During the 23-day works from Saturday 20 February to Sunday 14 March, Network Rail installed 500m of newly laid track, 12 renewed signals, 12 renewed points, 13 new overhead line equipment (OLE) structures and over 6000m of new cables as part of the £37million investment.

The new signalling system will compliment Greater Anglia’s new fleet of trains and deliver a better, overall journey experience for passengers.

The early preparation works began in the winter of 2019 and progressed throughout 2020. The end of the intensive 23-day works sees the completion of over four years of planning and delivery of a modern signalling system, providing a more efficient and reliable railway for passengers.

Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said: “The completion of works over the last 23 days is a significant achievement for everyone delivering the re-signalling and track renewals programme.

“I am delighted that Greater Anglia passengers will be able to benefit from better reliability as they return to the railway.

“Thank you to everyone, passengers and communities, who have helped and supported our teams to complete this work.”

Jamie Burles , Greater Anglia managing director, said: ”Thank you for customers for their patience during the last few weeks while Network Rail was carrying out intensive works.

“This is a great step forward in the transformation of the railway – next to come on this line will be  our brand new trains. Together with Network Rail, we’re creating a modern reliable railway fit for the future.

“At the moment, Government advice is still to stay at home and only to travel for legally permissible reasons, but as we travel along the roadmap out of lockdown, rail passengers will be able to enjoy reliable journeys on the line.”