Swindon & Slough

Softech provided design support and production from GRIP stage 5 onwards. As part of delivery, the design was produced in 3 phases.

Client

May Gurney

Project Completed

Oct 2013

Project Overview

Swindon & Slough | Building with a clock on it

Swindon and Slough were due for renewal, driven particularly by the safety and reliability issues associated with the degraded state of the existing equipment.

Slough: The project proposed a number of alterations to the existing layouts on the GWML between Paddington and Maidenhead.
Softech provided design support from GRIP stage 5 onwards and produced detailed design. As part of delivery, the design was produced in 3 phases:
Phase 0 – Re-locked and recontroled the present signalling assets using SSL Smartlock CBI, controlled by an IECC at TVSC. It also included a complete renewal of power supplies and operational telecoms.
Phase 1 – Signalling works associated with remodelling for the Crossrail Project within the Slough PSB area.
Phase 2 – Signalling works associated with the application of OLE and ensuring the full immunity of signalling assets.

Swindon: Swindon Area Signalling Renewal (SASR) project was part of the Western Main-line Signalling Renewal (WMSR) Programme and renewed the signalling equipment in the Swindon A area and re-control it to a new workstation at Thames Valley Signalling Control Centre (TVSC). As with other WMSR projects, it was an enabling project for the Great Western Main-line Electrification (GWMLE) Programme, providing a signalling system which was AC immune. In addition, this project installed the Return Screening Conductor (RSC) to provide a common earth (in line with the immunisation strategy).
The project was condition led, driven particularly by the safety and reliability issues associated with the degraded state of the existing equipment. The signalling equipment, which were under the control of Swindon A control area were coming to an end of its expected maintainable life in service.
There were also planned plain line track and S&C renewals imminent to make the layouts ready for the implementation of ETCS level 2 which were more efficiently implemented with upgraded signalling equipment.

The main objectives of the Swindon Area Signalling Renewal Project were to renew the life expired signalling and track equipment in the SWA PSB control area. It Transferred Interlocking / Signalling control of the Great Western Main Line (MLN1), Weymouth Line (WEY), South Wales and Bristol (SWB) and Swindon to Gloucester Yard Junction (SWM1) from Swindon PSB to TVSC.
It also upgraded Minety Level Crossing from a manned MG to unmanned MCB CCTV monitored from TVSC along with upgraded Purton Collins Lane AHBC to AHBC-X.
During this project train detection was upgraded by converting existing track circuits to Axle Counter sections.

Our Work: Case Studies

Haxby Telecoms Design
Carrying out site survey and telecoms detailed design for NR owned assets which includes station information and surveillance system.
Jan 26, 2024
Eastbourne Siding
Softech conducted a condition assessment to confirm that the existing signalling system is capable of performing the required train movements.
Dec 5, 2023
Radlett
This study was completed to assess how best to path down direction freight trains between the Midland Main Line and the proposed SRFI at Radlett.
Jan 12, 2016
Richmond Platform 3
Enhanced rail signalling for Richmond Platform 3 under LOCIP ensures efficient 5-car operations. Softech's ensures optimal design solutions.
Jul 16, 2015

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