UK: Network Rail has awarded Alstom a £49m contract for signalling and level crossing works between Farncombe and Petersfield as part of the Portsmouth Direct Upgrade project.
Control of the area’s signalling will be transferred from three local signal boxes to the Basingstoke Rail Operating Centre, using Alstom’s MCS Infinity remote signalling control and MAR-S automatic route setting. Alstom will supply its digital Smartlock interlockings, and track circuits will be replaced with axle counters.
Nine level crossings will be modernised, with five existing automatic half-barrier crossings to be upgraded to full barrier control, and three foot crossings fitted with stop lights and object controllers.
The contract announced on March 8 covers GRIP stages 5-8 of the project, with the work to be undertaken in 2022-24. It has been awarded as part of the Major Signalling Framework Agreement for the Southern Region which Alstom won in 2020. Alstom said it would collaborate with Network Rail as one ‘Customer Excellence team’, and would be working with its supply chain to improve pipeline visibility of future works, and to recruit apprentices for technical and project management roles.
