Westinghouse Completes Major Milestone
20 April 2004
Westinghouse Rail Systems Limited (WRSL) announced today the successful completion of one of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link major project milestones.
Westinghouse has worked closely on the Union Railways (North) Ltd (URN) project with management company RLE since March 2001. The end of this phase of the project marks the commissioning of the Eastern Interim Station (EIS), which is situated on the East side of what will ultimately be the new international station at St Pancras.
The EIS comprises approximately one third of the final extension to St Pancras, and will serve as the temporary station from 12 April until the full refurbishment of St Pancras is complete and the new underground station for ThamesLink has been built.
WRSL's programme of work involved introduction of two new Solid State Interlockings to replace the existing arrangement.
It also included replacement of a section of the signalling panel at West Hampstead power signal box, with WESTCAD, WRSL's control and display VDU-based system.
The programme also called for three new signal gantries and eight new signals to be commissioned as well as the installation of new signalling power, data cables, track circuits and train describer data and maps.
Despite such an intensive work programme, disruption to rail services during the Easter weekend and the subsequent week was kept to a minimum. Midland Mainline trains were terminated at Luton and Moorgate lines were closed during the night, with trains running under temporary block working during the day, on Saturday (10th) and Sunday (11th).
Westinghouse Project Manager, Chris Hobden, said: “There is no doubt that this has been one of our most challenging projects as it was an extremely complex logistical operation”.
“I am delighted that we have made such a successful contribution to this landmark project; the fact that we delivered the infrastructure to permit the Eastern Interim Station to open on time was due in no small part to the commitment and professionalism of our dedicated team.”
The contract now moves forward to the next phase, firstly bringing into service two more platforms, and then the refurbishment of the St Pancras station building and further track and infrastructure construction.
Chris continued: “This is one of the biggest infrastructure programmes in the UK and we’re delighted to be at the heart of it. The whole Westinghouse team is looking forward to continuing to deliver high quality signalling solutions to the project.”
