Alstom, Balfour Beatty to upgrade U.K. signalling

Signalling Solutions Ltd., a 50-50 joint venture company formed by Alstom Transport and Balfour Beatty Rail, has received from Network Rail, the UK main line infrastructure operator, two contracts of a total of nearly $40 million for modernization of signalling equipment in London and on the West Coast Main Line.

The first contract, worth approximately $5.5 million, covers the provision of both new and upgraded signalling, operational telecommunications and power supplies to increase capacity in the signalling system around the area of West Ham station, London. The works are currently in progress with final commissioning scheduled for May 2011. This signalling modernisation project will facilitate passenger journeys to the Olympic Park for the London 2012 Olympics.

The second contract, worth more than $35 million, is for the detailed design, construction, testing and commissioning of signalling equipment and power-related elements of the Bletchley re-modelling project on the West Coast Main Line. The works will commence shortly with the final commissioning scheduled for December 2012.

This second signalling modernization project will raise the current speed from 108.7 mph to 124.2 mph on one of the high-speed lines through the Bletchley station section and provides greater route diversity for train operations. In addition, the project will facilitate the replacement of the life expired signalling equipment and power distribution system in the area. The interlocking control will be provided by a Smartlock platform housed in the signalling control centre at Rugby.