The major signalling and telecommunications project at Edinburgh’s Waverley station is on track for conclusion later this year.

The project, of which the signalling, control and telecommunications has been handled by Westinghouse Rail Systems Ltd (WRSL), part of the Invensys Rail Group, included permanent way modifications for four new platforms as well as the development and installation of a new VDU Control Centre.

The first and most significant major milestone was completed on 27th December 2006, when the new VDU control centre and signalling for the new layouts at both Waverley and Haymarket were brought into use. This allowed the Permanent Way contractor to gain access to introduce the new switches and crossings at the West Throat of Edinburgh Waverley. The new layouts were signalled and brought into use by Westinghouse over several stages throughout 2007.

In conjunction with the layout changes at Edinburgh Waverly  21 of the 24 remote Route Relay Interlockings (RRI) on the East Coast Main Line and the Fife Lines have been transferred to the new VDU Control Centre. The interlocking areas were successfully transferred without a single disruption to traffic.

  “Stage 10, is the final Stage of Edinburgh Waverley and will see the remaining 3 RRI on the Edinburgh to Glasgow Line transferred to the VDU Control Centre. The final commissioning date has been programmed to tie-in with the new Airdrie-Bathgate line, which is to be commissioned in October, 2008.

 “We knew from the start that Edinburgh Waverley would be one of the most challenging projects we have ever undertaken,” said WRSL Regional Director Alistair McWhirter.

“It has also turned out to be an enormously interesting one and I’m absolutely delighted with the way the whole team has operated, bringing together a wide range of disciplines and producing an excellent result.

"It has been a marvellous achievement so far and Transport Scotland - for whom this is one of their flagship projects - has been delighted by the way it has been delivered by all parties involved."