THE £81 million resignalling at Hither Green has been completed by Network Rail, marking the end of operational use of London Bridge Area Signalling Centre.
The two-year project with 21 stages culminated in a nine-day closure in the Hither Green area from 25 July to 2 August, having been postponed from the Easter bank holiday weekend due to the Covid pandemic. Control has transferred from London Bridge ASC to Three Bridges Rail Operating Centre (ROC), which now fringes with Ashford signalling centre and Victoria ASC.
Siemens Mobility was the contractor for the work using its Trackguard Westlock Computer Based Interlocking and Westrace Trackside System. As well as installation of new LED signal heads and replacement of track circuits with axle counters, turnback facilities have been provided at Hither Green, Grove Park and Lee, and the movement of a signal at Grove Park means 12-car trains can now stop at platform 3.
London Bridge ASC was built in 1974 and first started signalling trains in 1975. Panel 7 covering the Hither Green area was the last panel in use, the process to transfer signalling away from the ASC having begun at Christmas 2014.
For more on the resignalling programme see our article on p20, April issue.
