Cambridge re-signalling

We’re investing £194 million to renew the signalling system for the Cambridge area. This will improve efficiency and reliability for passengers and freight users.

Signalling systems are essential to the safe and efficient operation of the railway. With the demands to run more trains, there is a need to modernise the existing signalling systems which are coming to the end of their operational life and replace them with a modern system that can unlock the ability to operate the railway more efficiently.

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Key benefits

The Cambridge re-signalling, Relock & Recontrol (C3R) programme will improve:

  • reliability, performance, and efficiency of the railway
  • improve safety for all users in the Cambridge area
  • improve safety at seven level crossings

The C3R programme will also deliver digital signalling technlogy, future proofing Cambridge for the ‘Digital Railway Ready’ programme.

Our plans

  • An upgrade of the signalling control equipment at Cambridge power signal box
  • The upgrade of the signalling safety interlocking equipment with a modern signalling technology
  • Upgrade of seven level crossings from half barrier to full barriers to improve safety for all crossing users
  • Renewal of the telecommunications and power supplies to support the new systems
  • Decommissioning of three mechanical signal boxes and relocating control of signalling to the Cambridge power signal box

Upon completion the project will have replaced almost 700 signalling assets across the area.

Cambridge resignalling project map
Cambridge re-signalling project map

Delivery

We’re delivering the updates to the signalling system over four key commissioning stages.

Stage 1 Commissioning: Completed during the twelve-day closure of the railway around Cambridge during the Christmas 2024/New Year period.

Stage 2 Commissioning (currently being planned) will include re-signalling, re-locking, and re-control of the area south of Cambridge station. This includes the new Cambridge South station. The old NX panel will be replaced with a new digital display workstation at Cambridge signal box. Additionally, Meldreth Road level crossing will be upgraded to a full barrier with CCTV.

Stage 3 Commissioning details are to be confirmed. It could include the re-control of the Breckland line between Brandon and Eccles Road in Norfolk, and level crossing upgrades at Dimmocks Cote, Waterbeach, Milton Fen, and Croxton. Additionally, it involves re-signalling around Cambridge North and Ely, and new digital signalling stations at Cambridge signal box.

Stage 4 Commissioning: to be confirmed but could include re-signalling, re-lock and re-control of the Newmarket – Bury St Edmunds branch, with new digital workstations at Cambridge signal box, upgrade of level crossings at Six Mile Bottom and Dullingham, decommissioning of redundant signal boxes at Dullingham, Chippenham and Bury St Edmunds.

Transport and Works Act order (TWAO) application documents

Following a public consultation in 2021, an application for a Transport and Works Act order (TWAO) to authorise Network Rail to compulsorily acquire land, rights in land and take temporary possession of same to facilitate the works required for the re-signalling of the Cambridge station interlocking area and the upgrade of relevant level crossings, was submitted to the Secretary of State for Transport on 5 August 2022.  

A public enquiry was held in the spring 2023. The TWAO decision notice was published on 28 March 2024 on the GOV.UK website here: Cambridge re-signalling: Transport and Works Act order – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

The suite of TWAO application documents can also be viewed below:

Latest News

January 2025:

The railway around Cambridge was closed for twelve days during Christmas 2024. This allowed us, in partnership with Alstom, to successfully deliver the first key commissioning stage for the Cambridge Resignalling programme.

  • The signalling system for Cambridge North and Ely was re-controlled and re-locked by commissioning a new Smartlock system to replace the Solid State Interlocking (SSI) technology.
  • New digital workstations covering Cambridge North and Ely were commissioned at Cambridge Signal Box using Alstom’s MCS-Infinity remote signalling control system, replacing part of a 40 year-old NX signalling panel.
  • A new signal was commissioned as well as the associated Automatic Warning System (AWS) and the Train Protection Warning System (TPWS) in the Ely area.
  • Preparations and enabling work took place for the future Stage 2 commissioning.

Contact us 

If you have any questions about the proposals please visit our Contact us page or call our national helpline on 03457 11 41 41.

Please follow us on Twitter @networkrailANG using the hashtag #CambridgeC3R.