Signaling Solutions Ltd. (SSL), the Alstom Transport and Balfour Beatty Rail joint venture company, was awarded a contract worth approximately $10 million from the U.K.-based Network Rail to deliver a prototype for the introduction of a new National Rail Traffic Management System. The delivery is scheduled for 2013.

SSL’s offer is based on Iconis, Alstom’s advanced automatic control center technology, for the 14 new Regional Operating Centers that will be created by Network Rail. Alstom Iconis is the technology used by Italian infrastructure operator RFI at the Bologna Control Centre. Together with the Integrale platform from Atos for national planning management, these technologies form an integrated monitoring and control system for all operational and functional elements of the rail network.

Parsons Brinckerhoff will provide program management, system integration and specialist U.K. signaling experience.

SSL will develop the system. On successful delivery of the fully working prototype phase, in 2013, focus will move to the national roll-out of the system. Control of the rail network and concentration of rail operations will gradually migrate to the new Regional Operating Centers, bringing significant efficiencies to the management of traffic across the British rail network. The rollout is due to be completed over the next 15 years.