SECTION C

Recent and forthcoming signalling alterations

Compiled by Nick Allsopp, Chris Bellett and John Hinson

Section C of the railwayman's special notices details alterations to signalling that take place. This section of the web site does the same, and covers significant alterations to signalling - past, present and future. The scope covers signal box closures, changes to methods of working and any other matters that are of interest. The records go back to the introduction of these pages in 1998.

You are currently viewing the page showing alterations for 2013. To view details for another year, just make a selection from the dates below.

1998 · 1999 · 2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · 2027 · 2029 · 2030 · 2033 · 2035 · 2036 · 2037 · 2038 · 2040 · 2047 · 2048 · 2051 · 2055 · 2056 · 2058

Note that where the period of an item covers more than a year (e.g. a major resignalling project), it will be listed on the page for the final year concerned. That year may be well into the future, even though some parts may have already been completed. You may have to do a little hunting to find such an item.

Network Rail have published an evolving list of planned dates for resignalling. Currently, the only mechanical signal boxes without a formal abolition plan and proposed date are Reedham Swing Bridge and Somerleyton Swing Bridge and these could survive to be the last mechanical boxes in the country.

SIGNALLING ALTERATIONS 2013

2013

Stalybridge
(Date unconfirmed)
Existing box at Stalybridge, dating from 1886 but with a Glasgow & South Western railway frame installed in 1942, to be replaced by a new structure with Route Relay Interlocking.

2013

Leeds to Harrogate
(Date unconfirmed)
Line to be resignalled for increased capacity and be controlled from the existing box at Harrogate. Horsforth and Rigton boxes (both dating from around 1873) will be abolished.

2013

Hastings-Eastbourne-Lewes
Pevensey, Hampden Park, Eastbourne, Polegate and Berwick boxes to close, area to be controlled from Sussex Regional Operations Centre at Three Bridges.

2013

Snodland
Snodland signal box to be closed. Area will be controlled from Aylesford box.

2013

Bexhill
Bexhill signal box to close, area to be controlled from Sussex Regional Operations Centre at Three Bridges.

2013

Cowlairs
Cowlairs box to close, area to be controlled from East Scotland Regional Operations Centre at Edinburgh.

2013

Darlington-Eaglescliffe
Urlay Nook box to be abolished, control to be from Bowesfield.

2013

Ferrybridge - Hensall
Sudforth Lane and Hensall signal boxes to be abolished. Area to be controlled by Ferrybridge.

2013

Gosberton-Lincoln-Gainsborough
Gosberton, Blotoft, Sleaford South, Sleaford North, Scopwick, Blankney, Saxilby, Stow Park and Gainsborough Lea Road signal boxes to be abolished. Area to be controlled from Lincoln Signalling Control Centre.
Gainsborough Lea Road is already permanently out of use following fire damage.

2013

Selby area
Henwick Hall and Thorpe Gates gate boxes (former signal boxes) to be abolished, crossing to be controlled from Selby.

2013

Bescot-Walsall-Rugeley
Bescot Down Tower, Walsall PSB, Bloxwich, Hednesford and Brereton Sidings to be abolished, area to be controlled from West Midlands Regional Operations Centre at Saltley.

2013

Hooton
Hooton box to be abolished, signalling to be controlled from Chester PSB.

2013

Manchester-Wigan and Euxton Junction
Walkden, Atherton Goods Yard, Crow Nest Junction, and Blackrod Junction boxes to close, area to be controlled either from Manchester Piccadilly or West Coast North Regional Operations Centre at Manchester (not determined as at February 2013)

2013

Huncoat and Brierfield
Huncoat and Brierfield level crossing frames (former signal boxes) to be abolished and crossings controlled from Preston PSB.

2013

Llanelli
Llanelli West gate box (former signal box) to close, control transferred to Port Talbot.

2013

Bargoed-Cardiff
Bargoed, Ystrad Mynach South and Heath Junction boxes to close, area to be controlled from South Wales Regional Operations Centre at Cardiff.

2013

Ash Vale Junction - Farnham
Ash Vale Junction, Aldershot and Farnham signal boxes to close, area to be controlled from Woking.

2013

Slough
Slough box to close, area to be controlled from Thames Valley Regional Operations Centre at Didcot.

2013

Berks & Hants line
Colthrop (former signal box) and Kintbury gate boxes abolished.

2013

Smithy Bridge
Smithy Bridge box to close, area to be controlled from Castleton.

2011
to
2013

Trent P S B
Trent PSB to be abolished in stages, area to be controlled from East Midlands Regional Operations Centre at Derby.
Netherfield Junction, Rectory Junction manual boxes to close in 2013, along with the former signal box at Sneinton in use as a gate box.

May 2012
to
January 2013

Bletchley PSB
Bletchley power box to be abolished.
May 2012: Bletchley flyover to Swanbourne Sidings to be controlled from Marston Vale box.
Christmas 2012/New Year 2013: Main line area controlled from Bletchley box to be controlled from a workstation at Rugby SCC and Bletchley box abolished.
March to June 2013 Bletchley Sidings area to be commissioned.

12 December 2012
to
February 2013

Hest Bank-Morecambe
Bare Lane to be abolished 12/12/12, area to be controlled from preston PSB.
Hest Bank Shunting Frame (former signal box) to be abolished in February 2013, to be controlled from Preston PSB.

March 2013

Barry - Bridgend
Aberthaw and Cowbridge Road boxes to close, area to be controlled from South Wales Regional Operations Centre at Cardiff.

January 2013
to
April 2013

Introduction of MCB(OD) level crossings
Widespread introduction of the new protection technology for level crossings known as MCB(OD) will take place. This involves remote control of level crossings using Obstacle Detection in preference to Closed Circuit Television using radar and laser scanning.
A total of 17 level crossings, most of which are presently conventionally manned, will be converted to MCB(OD) under the control of the following signal boxes: Doncaster (8), Selby (7), Wakefield Kirkgate (1), Northorpe (1), Beckingham (1).
Two other crossings in the same general area will be permanently closed.

Worthy of note amongst these are the following former signal boxes:
Balne (1957)
Medge Hall (1886)
Moss (1873)
Henwick Hall (1912)
Thorpe Gates (c1873)

20 April 2013

Cathcart
Cathcart (OCS panel) to be abolished, area to be controlled from West Scotland Regional Operations Centre at Glasgow Springburn.

20 April 2013
to
23 April 2013

Brigg
The hydraulically operated gates at Brigg (the last in the country) are to be replaced by barriers controlled from the existing signal box.

23 June 2013

Thrumpton Crossing
Existing NX panel of 1965 to be renewed with Solid State interlocking and VDU control, allowing the possibility of transferring control to another location at a later date. Will take of control of West Burton.

23 June 2013

West Burton
West Burton box to close, control to be from Thrumpton Crossing.

23 June 2013

Stow Park-Saxilby
Stow Park and Saxilby signal boxes to close and area to be controlled from Lincoln SCC. The level crossings, including Sykes Lane level crossing, will be converted to the new MCB(OD) technology.

28 October 2013

Horsham-Arundel
Billingshurst, Pulborough and Amberley boxes to be abolished, area to be controlled from Three Bridges Area Signalling Centre.

December 2013

Crewe - Shrewsbury
Network Rail's 'modular signalling' concept is to be trialled between Crewe and Shrewsbury. This resignalling scheme is one of the two pilot schemes.
This will see the closure of the mechanical boxes at Nantwich, Wrenbury, Whitchurch, Prees, Wem, Harlescott Crossing and Shrewsbury Crewe Bank. Whitchurch is already permanently out of use (noted October 2011) and the signals have all been removed or covered over. The box was demolished in September 2012.
The new signalling will be controlled from South Wales Regional Operations Centre at Cardiff.