Siemens awarded Banbury re-signalling contract

Siemens Rail Automation has been awarded a £40 million contract by Network Rail to renew life-expired signalling equipment from Leamington Spa to Heyford.

The project will transfer operation of the signalling areas that are currently controlled by Banbury North and Banbury South signal boxes, to a single workstation based at the West Midlands Signalling Centre (WMSC). The remaining signalling control functions at Leamington Spa Signalling Centre will also be transferred to the WMSC.

The work will see the installation of Siemens’ Trackguard Westlock computer-based interlocking solution; on completion it will deliver improved headways between Banbury and Aynho Junction, as well as a rationalised layout at Banbury Station to improve operational flexibility and minimise on-going maintenance requirements. Delivering value and efficiencies, the use of new LED signals and associated structures in the re-signalled area will also provide a highly reliable, low maintenance, long-term solution.

The 22-month project started on 26 January 2015 and will run alongside the permanent way track renewal programme.