After an 11-day disruption to train services in the Cambridge area, Alstom has completed Stage 2 of the Cambridge Resignalling, Relock and Recontrol (C3R) project.

This was Alstom’s largest-ever single re-signalling project in the UK, and covers the area from north of Cambridge station, through the new Cambridge South station, to the boundaries at Great Chesterford and Foxton.

Working around the clock, each shift, 250 Network Rail and Alstom colleagues:

• Resignalled and upgraded the interlocking and control of the area from north of Cambridge railway station, through the new Cambridge South station, to Great Chesterford and Foxton.
• Replaced an old NX (eNtry-eXit) panel at the Cambridge powered signal box (PSB) with two state-of-the-art modular control systems.
• Replaced an automatic half barrier at Meldreth Road level crossing with a full manually-controlled barrier with CCTV; this will improve safety for pedestrians and road users.

The project is part of a £200 million investment programme to modernise signalling across the region, and besides replacing 40-year-old equipment, it will also facilitate conversion to digital technologies such as the European Train Control System (ETCS).

Over 100 signals were commissioned during the work, as well as 76 point machines and over 300 axle counter sections, with 323 signalled routes now controlled from two new interlockings. Nine level crossings and the SSI and RRI interlockings south of Whittlesford were also upgraded.

When Cambridge PSB was switched off for the last time, just after midnight on Christmas Day, the old mechanical relay room fell silent, and its signalling panel displayed the message ‘FAREWELL’.

Network Rail awarded Alstom a £130 million design and delivery contract for the Cambridge re-signalling project in 2022. Having completed Stage 2, Alstom will now continue with Stage 3 of the project, which includes upgrading most level crossings and the control of the line between Ely and Norwich. This will be followed in 2027 by commissioning new signalling on the Newmarket to Bury St. Edmunds route.

“Re-signalling projects of this size and complexity are not easy to deliver, but the determination and professionalism shown by the project and operations teams, and in collaboration with the train operating companies, has been exemplary. The successful completion of Stage 2 is a testament to how well everyone worked together to plan and deliver this commissioning stage for Cambridgeshire with the accuracy and control required to be able to hand the railway back to passengers on time. A huge thank you and well done to colleagues at Network Rail, Alstom, their supply chains and the operations staff.”

Darren Hay, Senior Portfolio Manager for C3R at Network Rail