Alstom has successfully completed a EUR 57 million contract to upgrade signaling systems on the railway section between Farncombe, Surrey, and Petersfield, Hampshire, part of the Portsmouth Direct line. The project is the final stage of a major GBP 129 million investment program by Network Rail to upgrade the railway infrastructure between London Waterloo and Portsmouth Harbour.
The work focused on a section of infrastructure built over 150 years ago, where the equipment had reached the end of its service life.
The modernization introduced digital technologies ready for future stages of the British railway transformation, with direct benefits in terms of service reliability, maintenance staff safety, and asset performance.
Work concentrated in a limited operational window
The new equipment was commissioned during a nine-day complete closure between Guildford and Havant in November 2025. During this period, Alstom teams tested 90 new LED signals, installed over 30 km of cables and brought 17 buildings and digital controllers for track equipment into operation.
Signaling control was transferred from three local cabins to the Railway Operations Center (ROC) in Basingstoke, using the modular remote control solution developed by Alstom. Digital interlockings were also introduced to increase the reliability and operational capacity of the line.
The work was completed without any safety incidents, despite the complexity of the interventions. “I am extremely proud of the team’s achievement in delivering this complex program in maximum safety, without any accidents, during a nine-day closure. This success reflects the strength of our partnership with Network Rail and our suppliers, as well as our shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and passenger experience,” said Emmanuel Henry, Director of Digital and Integrated Systems in the UK and Ireland, Alstom.
Level crossing modernization and energy efficiency
The project included the modernization of 11 level crossings, seven of which were equipped with obstacle detection technology, the last of which was put into service in early December. Two other crossings were equipped with CCTV systems for better visibility by dispatchers, and two pedestrian crossings were equipped with MSL warning lights.
At the same time, classic track circuits were replaced with axle counters, a solution that allows for a reduction of approximately 50% in energy consumption on the modernized sector and improves the safety of maintenance work carried out in the railway area.
The SmartIO digital system, used to connect field equipment directly to the central control system, eliminates the need for domestic power, heating, or air conditioning in technical buildings, helping to reduce emissions and operating costs.
Part of the Portsmouth Direct Upgrade program
The contract delivered by Alstom represented the final stage of the Portsmouth Direct Upgrade program, one of Network Rail’s most important modernization projects on a heavily used commuter route.
“Since 2022, we have been delivering an extensive modernization program on the Portsmouth Direct line. This £129 million investment brings the route into the modern era, with new signaling and safer level crossings that will make travel more reliable and reduce the need for future closures. We thank passengers for their patience during this essential work,” said Tom Desmond, Network Rail’s chief operating officer.
The project is part of the Major Signalling Framework Agreement (MSFA) for the southern region of the UK, awarded to Alstom in 2020. Globally, the company’s Onvia portfolio includes over 300 ETCS projects, 25,000 on-board units and 23,000 km of equipped lines, positioning Alstom among the leading providers of solutions for the digitalization of railway networks.
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