UK: Network Rail has awarded Alstom a £130m contract covering design, delivery and commissioning works for the £194m Cambridge area resignalling project.
Alstom said the contract announced on February 22 is the largest to be awarded under the Major Signalling Framework Agreement during the current five-year Control Period 6.
The project covers 200 track-km from Meldreth and Elsenham in the south to Ely in the north and Thurston to the east. It includes
- replacement of almost 700 items of life expired signalling equipment;
- upgrading the control equipment at Cambridge power signal box with Alstom systems;
- upgrading the interlocking equipment with Alstom’s Smartlock 400GP computer-based interlocking;
- upgrading the automatic half barrier level crossings at Croxton, Dimmocks Cote, Waterbeach, Milton Fen, Dullingham and Six Mile Bottom to manually controlled barrier with obstacle detection, and Meldreth Road crossing to MCB with CCTV;
- telecoms and power supply renewals;
- decommissioning mechanical signal boxes at Bury St Edmunds, Dullingham and Chippenham Junction, with control relocated to Cambridge power signal box .
There will be provision for the future deployment of ETCS, as well as for the completion of East West Rail and the proposed Cambridge South station.
Design work is underway, and a Transport & Works Act Order application is to be submitted to the Department for Transport this spring seeking powers to purchase land adjacent to the seven level crossings. Installation is planned for four key commissioning stages ending in winter 2024.
