R A I LT R AC K - The Railways Archive

39 Strathclyde continued
Progress on the 1998 NMS
SIGNALLING The renewal of the signalling equipment based on Cowlairs signal
box has continued. The completion of this scheme will help to maintain and
improve reliability and performance and has already resulted in improvements in
the flexibility of operation in and out of Queen Street Station, giving an improved
service to the travelling public. This year £19M has been spent, out of a total of
£25M. The three-year project will be completed in May this year when the
Sighthill–Cumbernauld section will be commissioned. These works have seen the
removal of Sighthill, the last mechanical signal box in the Glasgow area.
Detailed development has been carried out at four major signalling
locations – Glasgow Central, Rutherglen, Polmadie and Mossend – allowing
renewal to begin during the next 12 months.
The renewal of train describers (which enable signallers to position and
identify trains) at Glasgow and Motherwell has been completed, as has the
replacement of the signalling interlocking at Motherwell. Equipment to protect
the signalling at Yoker from power surges has been commissioned. The
equipment that detects train movements (track circuits) has been upgraded with
axle-counters installed at certain critical locations to improve the reliability and
performance of the system.
PLANT AND ELECTRICAL The points-heater programme has continued as
promised in last year’s NMS. The installation of new or improved equipment at
47 locations involving 280 point-ends has enabled performance in the Strathclyde
area to be maintained and improved during periods of cold weather.
Remote monitoring equipment has been installed enabling the performance
of vital installations at key locations to be assessed without a visit to the site by
our maintenance contractor. This allows a variety of equipment such as power
generation sets and air supply systems to be monitored and their condition to be
assessed at various locations. The objective is to identify potential failures,
thereby avoiding delays to trains. If a fault occurs, the time taken to restore
services is minimised as the technician can take the appropriate spares and fit
them immediately. Equipment being monitored also includes anemometers
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at three locations, providing warnings of high winds and the consequential risk
to the OLE.
OLE power supplies have been renewed at Port Glasgow, Parkhead and
Dalreoch. When commissioned, they will provide improved standards and a
higher quality for electric train services.
STRUCTURES Two tunnels have had significant works carried out. The first – at
Knightswood – saw the renewal of the original cast-iron roof beams supporting a
public road and the Forth and Clyde Canals. Construction took place during an
agreed closure of the railway, the road and the canal. Disruption was kept to a
minimum with the works being completed within the planned 43 days. At
Abronhill Tunnel, the solution was different; the roof of the tunnel was removed
and a cutting created. Both of these major works have prevented possible future
collapse of the structure and will provide an assured service for more than a
century. Even with regular inspections the unexpected does occur, as happened
at Paisley when a retaining wall started to show signs of deterioration. Remedial
work was rapidly arranged to avoid closure of the route.
Drainage works have been completed at various locations, thereby
maintaining and improving performance despite abnormally high rainfall levels.
STATIONS Drumfrochar Station was opened in May, sponsored and funded by
the SPT and constructed by us.
The Station Regeneration Programme has continued, with 98 stations
completed to date. The largest worksite is the roof repairs at Glasgow Queen
Street.. The regeneration work is carried out by us, but only after full consultation
and agreement over the scope of work, with the SPT and ScotRail. Additional
work has been carried out at the same time by the SPT, at its own cost, to
upgrade adjacent facilities.
In addition to the regeneration work, improvements to station lighting and
the provision of CCTV equipment at a number of stations have improved safety
and security for the public.