Signalling works completed on Werrington dive-under
IN EARLY September, Network Rail commissioned the signalling system on the new section of track north of Peterborough, known as the Werrington dive-under, ready for freight trains to be diverted beneath the East Coast Main Line.
The project aims to cut congestion on the busy inter-city route, improve reliability for both passenger and freight traffic, and increase capacity in the area.
The dive-under is part of the £1.2 billion East Coast Upgrade, and the signalling installation is the final stage of the project prior to testing of the new line, which should come into use before the end of the year. Work began in summer 2018 and an 11,000-tonne tunnel – which was built onsite as trains continued running on the East Coast Main Line – was pushed into place in January 2021.
About five miles of track on the diversionary route which runs through the new tunnel has been installed, and work was completed to connect the new track to the existing Stamford lines and put signalling equipment in place during the summer.
Ed Akers, principal programme sponsor for Network Rail’s East Coast Upgrade, said: “We’ve completed vital signalling work which will allow freight trains to begin using the new tunnel and divert underneath the East Coast Main Line, rather than crossing it, from later this year. “Our teams have completed the vast majority of this project without impacting on train services.
“It will bring faster, more frequent and more reliable services for passengers travelling between London, Peterborough, the north of England and Scotland.”