Media centre

Tuesday 2 Apr 2019

Wherry lines reopen to passengers following engineering works to upgrade signals and track.

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

Work to upgrade the Norwich, Yarmouth and Lowestoft railway in Anglia moved forward last week as the fourth phase of re-signalling works were completed during a nine-day suspension of rail services on the Wherry lines.

As part of our Railway Upgrade Plan, Network Rail, its suppliers Atkins, Colas and Kiers worked 20,000 hours across the nine days focussing on significant track remodelling at Brundall junction with 300m of new track including switches and crossings - movable sections of rail that guide trains from one track to another, a new platform extension and full platform refurbishment. The remodelled track layout will improve the way trains move through the junction making the service more reliable for passengers.

Elsewhere on the lines, engineers have revising the signalling arrangements between Brundall and Reedham to prepare for the change to the modern signalling system.  Other equipment installed included new power supplies including extensive cable routes to serve the new signal systems.

As part of the revised signalling arrangements, engineers closed Reedham signal box and removed the redundant semaphore signals from the Reedham area. As an important part of our railway heritage, we have established a number of contacts across various community projects that have expressed an interest in taking the redundant equipment.

These include railway heritage projects, exhibitions and learning centres. Donations of redundant signalling equipment have already been made and we are continuing to identify opportunities for this equipment to find continued use and purpose.

This work is being done to prepare to switch from a Victorian era signalling system to a more modern system. The date for the new signals to come into operation is currently being planned, to allow our engineers to complete rigorous safety testing.

Meliha Duymaz, Network Rail’s route managing director for Anglia, said: “I’d like to thank all passengers for their patience while we completed these essential works over the last nine days, particularly the Brundall residents for their understanding while we completed the engineering work to upgrade the junction as part this important re-signalling scheme.

“Once the works are complete, passengers will have a safer, more reliable railway.”

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said: “It’s good to see work on this line progressing. Thank you to customers for their patience during this work. With new signals and our new trains, we’re transforming the railway in this part of the world.”