Alstom has won a three-year contract to upgrade the signalling equipment in the London Victoria area.
The signalling upgrades will take place between Tulse Hill, Crystal Palace and Peckham Rye, an important commuter route in Network Rail’s Southern region.
The signalling contract, worth 5 million GBP, is Phase 4 of a large-scale upgrade programme in the Victoria area. Alstom won the contract through the Major Signalling Framework Agreement in NR’s Southern region. Alstom’s digital-ready solutions will improve the line’s reliability, which will support capacity on the line; it will also cut down on operational expenditure and maintenance costs.
As part of the upgrade, Alstom will replace nearly 100 signalling equivalent units, including installing 63 new signals and two major signalling structures.
Alstom will not just install more modern – digital-ready – signalling technology, it will also fit the equipment closer to access points. This will give workers a safer environment and it will make it faster and easier to maintain the equipment. The design is such that more than 100 trackside cases will be replaced with just seven new equipment buildings in strategic locations.
Once Alstom installs its SmartIO object controller with Smartlock interlockings obsolescence risks with legacy systems will be removed. It will also give the signalling system the ability to interface over fibre-based digital networks to boost reliability, performance and functionality.
Alstom will use the ‘Infinity’ modular control system. It will connect the lineside equipment to NR’s Three Bridges Rail Operating Centre, thereby allowing remote signalling control and automatic route setting.
Alstom will work with Network Rail’s supply chain, local schools and colleges to build a diverse and sustainable workforce. It has already hired 31 new apprentices, including nine engineers.
Alstom has made a commitment to cut energy use on signalling projects by 20 percent. It will also make sure a minimum of 90 percent of waste is recycled.
Alstom won two of five signalling frameworks in the UK earlier in 2020. The potential value of these is 750 million GBP. Split into geographical lots, Alstom won the contracts for the Southern and Eastern regions.
“Passengers can look forward to a more reliable railway around the South London area. We are proud to deliver a number of efficiencies and improvements using automation and digital-ready technologies. The new system will also bring a safer environment for workers and a step-change in their operating environment. As we start to deliver projects as part of the Southern and Eastern signalling frameworks, we will be creating highly skilled jobs and apprenticeships across the regions.”
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