The £32m Thameslink core area resignalling contract has been awarded to Invensys Rail. It is a key part of Network Rail’s project to increase the cross-London route’s  capacity, allowing 24 trains per hour to run via Loughborough Junction/London Bridge in the south, central London, and Kentish Town in the north.

The signalling will be commissioned in four stages, and the scope includes all elements of design, manufacture, installation, testing and commissioning.  The equivalent of six Solid State Interlockings will be controlled by Invensys Rail’s Westlock interlocking and Westcad computer-based control systems, which are to be installed at West Hampstead and Victoria signalling centres. 

Nick Crossfield, Invensys Rail’s Managing Director, said: ‘Whilst this is an extremely challenging project in terms of design, integration and access, our delivery team is looking forward to working closely with colleagues at Network Rail on the Thameslink programme and with other contractors to deliver another first class solution for London.’

As a key deliverable for the London Olympics, the first stage of the project is to be commissioned at Kentish Town in April 2011, with the final stage scheduled for completion in April 2012.