Manchester’s railway signaling system is being modernized once in a generation, making the network future-proof for passengers and goods
The old signaling technology had been in use in Trafford Park for around 40 years and has now been upgraded to the latest digital signaling technology.
The work being carried out is part of the £ 36 million Great North Rail project and included the installation of 23 new signals along with 109 related signaling equipment by Network Rail.
The route is a major route into Manchester and the new signaling system will improve reliability and safety for both passengers and the cargo who use it.
Part of the benefits of the new signaling system is that it can now run longer freight trains in the northwest, which has a negative impact on traffic congestion in the region.
Work on the upgrade began in August 2020 and was completed during the holiday in August 2021, which now means that Manchester’s high-tech signal center will now control 26 signals.
The upgrading of the signal systems was carried out between Flixton Station and Manchester City Center, with further improvements also being made to the Trafford Park Depot site. The signaling technology has also been modernized at the Freightliner Manchester Terminal and at the DB Cargo / GB Railfreight Trafford Park Euro Terminal. This work will bring tremendous benefits to rail freight companies by providing improved frequency to allow more goods movements and also allowing longer train lengths to move more goods.
For more information on Network Rails signal system upgrades, please visit: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/looking-after-the-railway/signalling/
Network Rail Sponsor Roisin Nelson said: “This important work on this vital rail line to Manchester will transform connectivity for cargo and passengers across the North West. Work like this has never been more important – securing the future of this economically important rail link when the UK emerges from the coronavirus pandemic. I would like to thank the passengers and residents for their patience while we made these improvements over the past year. The investment will keep passengers moving, products on supermarket shelves, and essential goods to businesses across the country for decades to come. “
Chris Jackson, Northern Regional Director, said: “Our customers are at the center of everything we do and the work of our colleagues at Network Rail will ensure that our customers can travel on a more modern and efficient rail network.
“We’re proud to be part of an industry that does so much for the people of the north, and the work to improve the infrastructure goes hand in hand with our own improvements, which have included 101 new rollouts in the last 18 months Trains, the complete modernization of our older trains and significant improvements at our stations. “
Tim Shakerley, UK Rail Managing Director of Freightliner said: “Manchester is an important location for Freightliner with eight trains currently operating daily to the main intermodal ports of Felixstowe, London Gateway and Southampton. This investment will allow us to continue our train lengthening trials, which have included the longest intermodal trains in the UK at 775 meters to increase the efficiency and productivity of our services. In addition, there are significant environmental benefits from longer and heavier services. Moving more goods from road to rail will help reduce congestion on the UK’s busy roads, thereby reducing carbon emissions down the supply chain. “
Ian Langton, GB Railfreight’s Production Manager, said: “The new, state-of-the-art signaling system for Trafford Park will further improve reliability on this important cargo route to Manchester. This large investment will provide better connectivity while supporting growth in intermodal volume so that more goods can be sustainably delivered across the country. “
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