Upgraded signalling in South London reduces train delays cut by half

Following the commissioning of new signalling in South London, Network Rail has revealed that delays to Southern and Gatwick Express train services into London Victoria have fallen by 55%.

The new signalling came into use on the lines between Balham, Clapham Junction, and platforms 9-19 at London Victoria last Christmas. It replaced old equipment that had been installed in the early 1980s and had become increasingly unreliable.

This resignalling forms part of Network Rail's wider London Victoria South London resignalling programme in which engineers are carrying out major improvements to modernise outdated track and signalling on the lines into London Victoria from South London. The work includes upgrades at several major junctions in the area, including at Clapham Junction where improvements to the track have resulted in increased line speeds and improved train performance.

With the increased reliability of the lines, in South London, Network Rail's maintenance teams are able to focus on other parts of the railway that are in need of maintenance and repairs.

Before the new signalling became operational last Christmas, delays had reached up to a maximum of 4,000 per month but this year have now reduced to a low of 1,800 per month.

Lucy McAuliffe, Network Rail's Sussex route director, said: “Investment in the railway is vital to delivering safe and reliable services for our passengers. Our investment to upgrade the signalling and track in South London is really bearing fruit with delays being reduced by a whopping 55% on lines into London Victoria – that's as much as 36 hours a month that passengers weren't stuck on trains for longer than they needed to be.

“We're looking forward to achieving similar improvements for passengers from signalling upgrades in the Crystal Place, Tulse Hill and Peckham area which are underway and set to finish in February 2024, and signalling upgrades between Nunhead, Battersea and Herne Hill, which will come to an end in 2025.

“We know that the changes to services to support the delivery of this work are disruptive and we're sorry to any passengers whose journeys are disrupted during this time. Please rest assured the new signalling and track upgrades will deliver tangible benefits for passengers travelling today and long into the future.”

Keith Jipps, Govia Thameslink Railway's Infrastructure Director, said: “On behalf of our passengers who use our services heading to Victoria and the South London lines, we're delighted to see this dramatic boost in punctuality.

“We thank passengers for their patience during the ongoing work to further modernise the signalling systems. Network Rail are making a massive investment in infrastructure renewals for rail travellers in South London, and we're looking forward to more great results. We believe it will encourage even more people to choose sustainable transport in and around the capital.”