February completion for Wherry lines resignalling

Infrastructure News

BLOCKADES DURING February 2020 will enable completion of the resignalling of the Wherry lines between Norwich and Great Yarmouth/Lowestoft.

The phased programme will run from 1 to 23 February, with semaphore signals replaced with modern colour lights. Level crossings at Brundall, Cantley, Lingwood Chapel Road, Lingwood Station Road, Oulton Broad North and Strumpshaw will be upgraded to full barriers with remotely controlled CCTV. The new equipment will be controlled from the Colchester signalling centre.

Atkins is the contractor for the work, using ElectroLogIXS technology from Alstom – the third UK application for this brand of computer-based interlocking following installation in the Crossrail depot at Old Oak Common and on the Shepperton branch. The Wherry programme had been due for completion by the end of March this year but was delayed to allow further development and testing. The Berney Arms branch between Reedham and Great Yarmouth has been closed since the work began in October 2018 due to remodelling of the junction at Reedham and will reopen next February.

Network Rail says it has also rescheduled repairs and renewals work to coincide with the closures, including a full bridge replacement at Postwick and track renewals at Lowestoft, Acle and Hassingham, along with additional maintenance to the swing bridges at Reedham and Somerleyton.