Alstom has successfully completed Phase Two of the Cambridge Resignalling, Relock and Recontrol (C3R) project, marking the largest resignalling project ever undertaken by the company in the United Kingdom. The project represents a major step forward in the modernization of the railway infrastructure in the Cambridge region, with direct benefits in terms of safety, reliability, and capacity for passengers and operators.
The work was carried out over the winter holidays, during an 11-day total closure of the station and adjacent routes between December 25, 2025, and January 5, 2026, and was delivered on time to Network Rail.
A major intervention, delivered during the holidays
During the works, approximately 250 specialists per shift were mobilized in 23 shifts, totaling over 50,000 hours of work. The project included:
- resignaling and transfer of operational control for the area north of Cambridge station, through the new Cambridge South station, to the network boundaries at Great Chesterford and Foxton;
- replacing the old NX (Entry-Exit) panel in the Cambridge PSB signal box with two modern modular control systems (MCS);
- upgrading the Meldreth Road level crossing from an automatic system with partial barriers to a full system with manually controlled barriers and CCTV surveillance, integrated into the signaling system.
At midnight on Christmas Day, the Cambridge PSB signal panel was permanently decommissioned after over 40 years of operation, symbolically marked by the message “FAREWELL.”
Technology ready for the digital future
The new configuration is built around Smartlock 400 interlocking technology and the MCS Infinity control platform developed by Alstom. The system offers increased operational flexibility and improved reliability, and is ready for the implementation of digital technologies, including ETCS.
The work involved over 100 signals, 76 points machines, over 300 axle counter sections, 323 signaled routes, and nine level crossings.
Enhanced safety at Meldreth Road
Following the upgrade, the Meldreth Road level crossing reopened a week ahead of schedule. The new system uses full barriers, connected to the main signaling system and remotely operated via CCTV, enhancing safety for road users and pedestrians.
GBP 200 million investment and next steps
The Phase Two works are part of a GBP 200 million investment program by Network Rail to modernize signaling in the region, replacing equipment that has been in service for over four decades.
Alstom was awarded the GBP 130 million contract in 2022 to design and deliver the Cambridge resignaling, which is the largest single contract awarded by Network Rail under the MSFA framework agreement.
The company will continue with Phase Three in 2026, which will include most of the work on level crossings and the re-control of the Ely–Norwich route, with Phase Four, scheduled for 2027, bringing the new signaling systems for the Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds routes into operation.
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