Work has been completed on a comprehensive overhaul of track, lineside equipment and digital signalling infrastructure at the Basford Hall freight depot in Crewe.
Improvements to the site include the upgrade of 74 sets of points, 24km of new signalling power cables, 30km of fibreoptic cabling and 7 new control system buildings, as well as 65 new LED signals with 6 structures to display them to drivers.
One of the busiest railway junctions in Britain, Network Rail invested roughly 190 million GBP into the work, which also saw improvements made to adjacent lines connecting the site to the West Coast main line.
Systems commenced operation on January 3 2025 after two years of extensive work, with control of all new signalling switched to the Rail Operating Centre in Manchester.
“Today is the start of a new era for the way we signal freight and passenger trains through Crewe - one of the busiest junctions on Britain’s railway. This major investment, using the latest technology, benefits both passengers and freight, getting people and goods to where they need to be more smoothly and reliably.”
Work on the project was handled by two separate contractors, with Siemens responsible for all signalling, civil works, electrical, plan & telecoms and Central Rail Systems Alliance (CRSA) carrying out track upgrades, drainage renewal and OLE modifications.
“Modernising the signals at a key hub on our network is an important milestone for the railway and will help to make journeys on the West Coast Main Line more reliable for decades to come.”
With 10 days worth of extensive closures, normal service has now resumed following a phased closure of the railway in Crewe over the festive period which saw the largest rail replacement operation the town has ever seen.
