Total route modernisation
Encyclopedia
Total route modernisation is a concept first introduced by British Railways whereby a particular railway route is upgraded in one "big bang", with track, signalling and often stations and rolling stock all being renewed or modernised simultaneously in a multifaceted programme of works.
This is in contrast to the more traditional process under which a line of route is gradually improved over time with a series of piecemeal incremental upgrades, such as electrifying a line while leaving the signalling as it is, or easing out bottleneck junctions one at a time, or gradually raising line speeds by individual bits of track realignment over different stretches of line over a long period, as had been the typical approach over many decades on, notably, the East Coast Main Line
.
An example of total route modernisation was that of the Chiltern Main Line
carried out by British Rail's Network SouthEast
sector. Under this scheme, mechanical semaphore signals were replaced with new colour-light signalling, a new fleet of Class 165 "Chiltern Turbo"
diesel trains was introduced, Automatic Train Protection
was fitted, line speeds were raised, and stations refurbished. This work took four years in all, and was completed in 1992.
This is in contrast to the more traditional process under which a line of route is gradually improved over time with a series of piecemeal incremental upgrades, such as electrifying a line while leaving the signalling as it is, or easing out bottleneck junctions one at a time, or gradually raising line speeds by individual bits of track realignment over different stretches of line over a long period, as had been the typical approach over many decades on, notably, the East Coast Main Line
East Coast Main Line
The East Coast Main Line is a long electrified high-speed railway link between London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Wakefield, Leeds, York, Darlington, Newcastle and Edinburgh...
.
An example of total route modernisation was that of the Chiltern Main Line
Chiltern Main Line
The Chiltern Main Line is an inter-urban, regional and commuter railway, part of the British railway system. It links London and Birmingham on a 112-mile route via the towns of High Wycombe, Banbury, and Leamington Spa...
carried out by British Rail's Network SouthEast
Network SouthEast
Network SouthEast was one of three passenger sectors of British Rail created in 1982. NSE principally operated commuter trains in the London area and inter-urban services in densely populated South East England, although the network reached as far west as Exeter...
sector. Under this scheme, mechanical semaphore signals were replaced with new colour-light signalling, a new fleet of Class 165 "Chiltern Turbo"
British Rail Class 165
The British Rail Class 165 Turbo is a fleet of suburban diesel multiple units , originally specified by and built for British Rail, the then United Kingdom state owned railway operator. They were built by BREL at York Works between 1990 and 1992...
diesel trains was introduced, Automatic Train Protection
Automatic Train Protection
Automatic Train Protection in Great Britain refers to either of two implementations of a train protection system installed in some trains in order to help prevent collisions through a driver's failure to observe a signal or speed restriction...
was fitted, line speeds were raised, and stations refurbished. This work took four years in all, and was completed in 1992.