Friday 10 Dec 2021
Railway restoration for historic Settle to Carlisle signal box
- Region & Route:
- North West & Central
- | North West & Central: North West
A Grade II listed signal box on one of the country’s most picturesque rail routes has been refurbished to improve future journeys for passengers and freight.
The signal box in Garsdale on the Settle and Carlisle railway line has been upgraded as part of a £500,000 Great North Rail Project investment.
The 111-year-old signal box’s structural timbers, outside cladding and electronics have been repaired. It also has a new roof and windows.
Rachel Slater, scheme project manager for Network Rail, said: “We take great care to maintain heritage structures on the railway and the Settle to Carlisle railway line is no exception.
“The historic signal box in Garsdale has been restored to its former glory as part of a half-a-million-pound Great North Rail Project investment. This will secure future journeys for passengers and freight on this iconic north west route.”
Tony Baxter, regional director at Northern, said: “The refurbishment of Garsdale signal box is an important investment in railway infrastructure. Not only will it protect a historic asset, but it will mean that today's railway continues to be able to operate.
"Customers travelling with us on the Settle and Carlisle route will benefit from improved reliability on this section of the line."
Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, said: “This is fantastic news and my thanks go to the Network Rail engineers who have been working hard to get this refurb done.
“The iconic Settle to Carlisle line is such an important route both for people getting to and from work and tourists visiting the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales.”
Richard Morris, former chairman of the friends of the Settle to Carlisle line, said: “We’re delighted with the completed refurbishment of Garsdale signal box, following on the similar work carried out at Appleby last year. We really appreciate Network Rail’s rolling programme to preserve our heritage and keep all the signal boxes along the line in the best possible condition.”
The Garsdale improvements follow a major £2.1m investment to upgrade the world-famous Ribblehead Viaduct on the same railway line earlier this year.
To read more about how Network Rail looks after heritage structures, visit: www.networkrail.co.uk/who-we-are/our-history/working-with-railway-heritage/
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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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