Preston station reopens after major signalling upgrades

Preston station reopened this morning following a major signalling upgrade.

Specialist teams have been working since New Year’s Day to replace 1960s equipment with three modern signalling gantries at the north end of the station, installing five new signal posts and seven new LED signal heads.

The new signals will be clearer for train drivers to see helping services run more smoothly through the station.

The newer technology will also need less maintenance than the older bulb signals they replace – reducing the need to close the railway for repairs in future, Network Rail said.

Network Rail and its principal contractor VolkerRail started work on January 1 during a rare full 100-hour closure of Preston station.

The project was just one of a swathe of journey improving upgrades between London and Cumbria over the festive season.

The Christmas and New Year work has seen a combined investment of nearly £200m on the West Coast Main Line, and it forms part of a much larger £400m investment over the next four years.

Passengers using the Northern stretch of Britain’s busiest rail route are being reminded to check www.nationalrail.co.uk while that work is ongoing.

Christian Irwin, Network Rail North West and Central region capital delivery, director, said: “We are investing hundreds of millions of pounds to improve future journeys on the West Coast Main Line and these latest projects will make real differences to passenger and freight journeys.

“We would like to thank passengers for their patience during our work in Preston and also across the wider network this festive season.

"With our major bridge renewal in Cumbria continuing until 15 January, we’d like to remind people to check before they travel while we make the railway fit for the future.”