Signal box closure plan

[fsmr]

Thanks metro land, looks like the boxes around us in Oakham will go in 2015

I have a question though to anyone in the know
, given how many crossings on the Syston to Peterborough line are local control from boxes or remote from another i.e CCTV (as in the case of Oakham Brooke converted from AHB due to danger of traffic queues) or manual hand gates which presumably wont go over to AHB but CCTV remote worked How will all these LCs be controlled by fewer people Also what happens about the numerous occuption crossings, all with phones to contact the local box. How is someone going to answer all the calls from such a large area or , are these scores of people sitting around in these new centers for such events. Any delay in answering the phone will lead to farmers not bothering to phone to cross, and we all know what happens next!

I suppose it is called progress but somehow!!

 

[Metroland]

I can't give you a definitive answer, but I will make a reasonably educated guess.

When Leicester to Peterborough goes over to EMCC at Derby it will be on a couple of dedicated desks. You could probably do it on one, if it wasn't for the amount of level crossings, but my guess is Frisby - Oakham (exclusive) will be on one, and Oakham - Uffington on another.

Leicester PSB and Croft are currently being transferred to Derby, and these have two dedicated desks. The north and south panels at Leicester being integrated with the small Westcad installation at Croft. The automatic route setting (ARS) enabling the reduction of one post.

Likewise when the Robin Hood line went to EMCC in September, the Robin Hood Panel in Trent and the small NX panel at Kirby Summit were integrated. With the help of ARS one man can adequately take over a larger area.

This is all in line with the area one person can control with the help of ARS in existing areas.

EMCC will eventually have about 20 or so signalling desks to control the whole of the East Midlands, as well as other desks for controllers and TOC staff. Although its a large area, it's still divided down so one person controls maybe a maximum of 50 miles or less, depending on the complexity.

On the subject of level crossings, there are regulations concerning whether they are AHBs, CCTV etc. Very busy level crossings or those with line speeds over 100mph have to be CCTV or replaced by bridges. I would assume at least Oakham would be CCTV and maybe a couple of others. All existing occupation/accommodation crossings would go through to the new desks, unless NR apply for them to be abolished.

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Added news

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Slough IECC closed 25/12/11 transferred to TVSC Didcot at 0032.

Leicester PSB to shut this Sunday to Derby EMCC

 

[fsmr]

On the subject of level crossings, there are regulations concerning whether they are AHBs, CCTV etc. Very busy level crossings or those with line speeds over 100mph have to be CCTV or replaced by bridges. I would assume at least Oakham would be CCTV and maybe a couple of others. All existing occupation/accommodation crossings would go through to the new desks, unless NR apply for them to be abolished.

It was me that pointed out to the highways that the Brooke road AHB contraveened the rules for AHB use being on a section of road in town with heavy queing traffic with poor vissibility of egress leading to cars stopping on the LC:roll: How a disaster never happened as there were so many near misses until it was changed over to CCTV interlocked from Oakham. Unfortunately, it adds 5 minutes on to each journey over it now but at least no one will ever get trapped on there.

There used to be another LC in Oakham making 3 where the Footbridge is on South Street worked by a box, and another crossing at Eggleton with a Box that is now just a bridleway / farm crossing with user phones. I use this a lot with the bike and dogs and always phone in. Wont be able to understand the Derby accent in 2015!!

The Oakham Syston line must be a close contender for the most LCs per mile followed by some of the lines around Spalding and Boston

 

[Metroland]

Leicester PSB closed 19:58, 31st December, 2011.

Control now to EMCC Derby from two desks one of which also covers Croft.

Some residual problems at Loughborough today.

 

[Moodster020]

Its a cue for all you photters & videographers out there to capture the signalboxes before they are gone forever!

The shrewsbury box must be the pinnacle of them all...

 

[NSEFAN]

For anyone who's interested, the old crossing gates at Littlehaven are due for replacement sometime this month.

There are engineering works on the line on the 8th, 22nd and 29th (all Sundays), so the replacement of the barriers could take place on any one of these days. I have read on WNXX that the box itself is due on to close on the 30th, with control being handed over to Three Bridges.

 

[Proud Salopian]

Its a cue for all you photters & videographers out there to capture the signalboxes before they are gone forever!

The shrewsbury box must be the pinnacle of them all...

Shrewsbury (or more precisely Severn Bridge Junction) isn't going anywhere... it's a Listed building. And in any case Shrewsbury is only due to be "upgraded" :roll: in the 2050s..