£29m signalling upgrade planned for Wherry lines
SEVEN signal boxes will close as part of a £29 million resignalling scheme planned for the Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft branches.
Atkins has been awarded the contract to replace existing semaphore signalling with new electronic lights. Work begins in October, and will be completed by spring 2019. Design work is under way and surveys are due to start in September.
The signal boxes to close are: Great Yarmouth and Acle on the Yarmouth branch; Cantley, Reedham, Somerleyton and Oulton Broad North on the Lowestoft branch; and Brundall. The four crossing keeper gate boxes to close are at Brundall, two at Lingwood (on the Yarmouth branch), and Strumpshaw (Lowestoft branch).
The project involves the installation of LED signals, axle counters, in-bearer clamp lock points and new lineside power supplies. Track remodelling will also be carried out by Network Rail and the Switches and Crossings Alliance.
Six gated level crossings will be replaced with CCTV crossings. These are at Brundall, Chapel Road (Lingwood), Lingwood, Strumpshaw, Cantley and Bungalow Lane, while a number of user-worked crossings will be upgraded to Miniature Stop Light crossings.
Atkins told RAIL that the signalling works will take place as one primary commissioning, although some track remodelling and level crossing alterations will be carried out in advance.
The project limits are east of Whitlingham Junction (meaning that the Sheringham branch is unaffected) and Oulton Broad South on the East Suffolk Line.
Atkins said that while the signal boxes and crossing keeper’s boxes will close, the swing bridge operators’ boxes at Reedham and Somerleyton will remain open. Five line closures are expected, and these are being planned with NR and Greater Anglia for off-peak periods.
Great Yarmouth carriage sidings (which is to be used in the commissioning of GA’s new Stadler fleet) and Lowestoft Yard do not form part of the project, although access will be via new signals.
The system will be controlled from the new digital control centre at Colchester Signalling Centre.