Background

The box which is in use today was originally opened in 1877 and controls the level crossing in the middle of Haydon Bridge Village (Northumberland) acting as a block post between Hexham and Haltwhistle on the Newcastle to Carlisle route.

Project Description
The project was the last of the Work Packages to be commissioned under the LNE Framework Agreement, and was to replace an existing gated level crossing with an up–to–date Manually Controlled Barrier level crossing, which necessitated the renewal of approximately half of the signal box wiring, in order to conform to current standards. The work required mechanical locking alterations; the provision of 6 new circuit controllers and 6 new H–type level locks. A data logger was also provided.

The works included the provision of 4 new barriers and 5 new wig-wag lights, the bases for which could only be cast once the old gates and gate posts had been recovered. The gate stop raising gear required recovery, and along with road realignment works, caused extensive road resurfacing and white lining to be undertaken. The work also included new locations, troughing route, fencing, white lining and signage, the signs requiring provision of illumination, and new insulated block joints.

A significant challenge presented to the team was to negotiate the possession required to allow both the level crossing conversion, and the new work in the signal box to be undertaken and commissioned, whilst reducing to a minimum the affect on both rail and road traffic. To enable this, a special train working was implemented with Hand signallers whilst trains were still running for the first 48 hours of the commissioning period. T3 protection was implemented for the final 30 hours of the commissioning along with road closures.

Further challenges were that the crossing was extensively used by young people from the local school; and that access had to be maintained at all times for the Fire Station adjacent to the crossing. The Area being in the Tyne valley is designated a conservation area, and therefore the control circuitry instead of being contained within a Relocatable Equipment Building adjacent to the signal box, had to be housed within cabinets mounted on a new removable steel mesh floor in the under–portion of the signal box, which could only be completed following removal of mechanical equipment.

PROJECT STATISTICS
Client : Network Rail
Date of Award : December 2007
Date of Completion : January 2009

Haydon Bridge Level Crossing Data Sheet.pdf