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Friday 17 Jun 2005

READING CELEBRATES 40 YEARS

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

| Southern

Existing and former staff gathered at Reading signal box yesterday to celebrate 40 years of signalling excellence as a plaque was unveiled to mark the anniversary of its opening.  The box signalled its first train in April 1965 and was officially opened on 16 June that year by the then Mayor of Reading. Robbie Burns, Network Rail Route Director said:  “Signallers are the air traffic controllers of the railway and play a crucial role in ensuring the thousands of passengers who pass through the Reading area every day reach their destinations without delay.  A signaller will typically have to make hundreds of decisions on every shift about how and where trains run.  While passengers may not always be aware of their role, signallers play a crucial part in ensuring their train arrives on time.” Reading signal box looks after nearly 100 route miles of track on the Great Western Main Line and controls hundreds of passenger and freight trains every day - around one train every eight minutes.