Background

The signalling contract was awarded to SSL in June 2009. SSL carried out the GRIP4+ design with Signalling Designers and Power Designers from the Birmingham Office and the site survey works being completed by the Installation and Testing staff from Beeston depot.

SSL also provided the signal sighting chairman and protection staff from our Beeston depot.

The scope of work for Signalling and Power as part of the Bletchley Project consisted of producing the Signalling Approval in Principle documentation and Power Form EA.

The key drivers for the GRIP4+ project were the replacement of the life expired signalling equipment within Bletchley PSB control area and the provision of the following improved functionality:

• - renew the life expired signalling and track equipment in the BY PSB controlled area.
• - transfer interlocking / signalling control of the West Coast Main Line and Vale Lines from BY PSB to Rugby SCC.
• - transfer interlocking / signalling control of the Up and Dn Bletchley / Chord Line from BY PSB to Marston Vale SCC.
• - Maximise the opportunity presented by renewals to remodel the track layout and provide appropriate functionality and capability to meet the requirements of the Operational Requirements Specification (Ref 1).
• - Reduce the amount of infrastructure to improve maintainability and reliability.
• - to increase the Up Fast linespeed to 125mph through Bletchley South Junction.
• - Provide 775m stabling facility for regulation and HABD inspection on the Bletchley Arrival Line.
• - Provide 12 car standage in platforms 4 and 5 to supplement existing 12 car capability in platforms 1, 2 and 3.
• - provide for turn back facility clear of the slow lines.
• - provide 4 car standage for Vale services turn back in platform 6.
• - provide for an Up Slow to Up Fast and parallel Down Slow to Down Fast move at Drayton Road Junction.
• - Enable entry and exist to the carriage sidings from the north and south
• - provision for a 4 car Vale-Bletchley-Milton Keynes Passenger facility.
• - Maintain current operations with routes onto the WCML in both Southerly and Northerly directions (currently provided by reversing on the Up and Dn Bletchley / Chord).
• - Maintain stone train operation through the stone siding for trains up to 437m long, allowing for running around clear of the Slow Lines.
• - Provide Bi Directional Signalling on Up Slow moves to relief 1.
• - Rationalise siding arrangements at Bletchley.
• - 12 car shunt through carriage sidings washer, remaining clear of running lines.

Drayton Road

As part of the early works for the main scheme, switch panels for Drayton Road Junction have been installed, complete with point mechanisms, and clipped and padlocked out of use. The normal detection from the point machines will be cut into the track circuits reading over the points.

PROJECT STATISTICS
Client: Network Rail
Date of Award: June 2009
Date of Completion: January 2011

Bletchley GRIP4+.pdf