Devon and Cornwall resignalling

[whole diary]

[FarWestJohn]

Has anyone seen any further information on this:

https://news.railbusinessdaily.com/siemens-mobility-to-deliver-low-cost-digital-solution-for-devon-and-cornwall-re-signalling-programme/?fbclid=IwAR1Ngm8QLBWeakyQ-XAV6NvmwPocHsx5CGQ54wIUYi7qX8te3Ox7yjA6MXQ

It says completion in late 2023!!

I did not see any mention of it in the current Modern Railways article on GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).

[bobm]

As well as installation of all signalling equipment, Siemens Mobility will be supplying its Controlguide Westcad control system at Exeter power signal box (PSB^▸ (Power Signal Box)) for Cornwall, and at Plymouth PSB for Devon, as well as taking responsibility for all telecommunications; power distribution and civil engineering works required for the new equipment.

Someone's geography has got confused!

[infoman]

Would this mean that all Semaphore signals would be no more?

[AMLAG]

So far the Siemens Mobility press release seems unclear in how much of the current
signalling in Cornwall will instead be controlled from the Exeter Signalling Centre and which Cornish SBs^▸ (Signal Box) will be closed and just what the reported elsewhere, area of 'West Devon' that will be controlled from the existing early 1960's Plymouth PSB^▸ (Power Signal Box), which ?was/is
expected to close.
The last Semaphore signals could well, in 2024, be at Bodmin General.

[GBM]

I'm very confused (it's my age).
Plymouth will/might control some parts of West Cornwall; the rest going over to Exeter.
Why not do the lot from Plymouth; over even do it all from Exeter and shut Plymouth. 

[bobm]

I remember back in 2014 I was lucky enough to look round the Thames Valley Signalling Centre at Didcot.  At that stage the plan was still to control everything from Paddington to Penzance from there.

In this photo the Paddington workstation is the last video display on the right.  Penzance would, I believe, have been at the end of the semi-circular wood surround in the foreground. 

[Pb_devon]

I hope it’s OK to quote from a post on RMweb earlier this week:

“ As one of the designers on the scheme, I can answer the questions:
 
1) Semaphore Signalling at Liskeard, St. Blazey, Goonbarrow and St. Erth is safe, and the mechanical frame at Penzance is also safe. I think the signal boxes that are being closed will remain standing, just in a different use.
 
2) The new workstation at Exeter will cover Cornwall, and eventually also control Plymouth when that’s done (although I don’t when that will be). There’s simply more space for a workstation at Exeter and it’s where the Cornish signallers are based at anyway (at least I think that was the case when we did the original scheme).
 
Simon”

I have asked him to clarify that the mechanical signals will be motor driven remotely.

[GBM]

Thank you Pb_devon.
Clears my mind somewhat.
Wonder why Penzance is 'safe' as it only controls that area.
If Plymouth can be remoted from Exeter, then Penzance would be no problem to remote.

[Jamsdad]

Don't let Mebyon Kernow hear that!

[Pb_devon]

And the answer Simon has provided is this:

“ Yes and no, the Mechanical Semaphores at Lostwithiel, Par and Truro are all being replaced with LED Colour Lights, they will be controlled by a VDU Workstation at Exeter rather than the panel. However, the Mechanical Semaphore Signals at Liskeard, St. Blazey, Goonbarrow and St. Erth will remain and worked by their respective boxes.”
 
So a partial resignalling then!

[ellendune]

At first sight this looks a bit of a patchwork.  It would be more logical if Liskeard only covered the branch to Looe.  Where is the interface with Plymouth panel?

[TonyK]

And the answer Simon has provided is this:

“ Yes and no, the Mechanical Semaphores at Lostwithiel, Par and Truro are all being replaced with LED Colour Lights, they will be controlled by a VDU Workstation at Exeter rather than the panel. However, the Mechanical Semaphore Signals at Liskeard, St. Blazey, Goonbarrow and St. Erth will remain and worked by their respective boxes.”
 
So a partial resignalling then!

It saves the cost of building a museum. One day, the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) signalling system will be controlled by one person from a smartphone app.

[Pb_devon]

Where is the interface with Plymouth panel?

Plymouth controls west up to the Liskeard distant.

[Carvolth]

I still find it hard to understand the logic of a mixture of old mechanical signalling with that of a modern network all controlled from one ROC^▸ (Rail Operating Centre - a centralised location for railway signalling and train control operations for a specific route or region). It seems a "pig's ear" of a scheme to me and probably fraught with difficulties.

[IndustryInsider]

I still find it hard to understand the logic of a mixture of old mechanical signalling with that of a modern network all controlled from one ROC^▸ (Rail Operating Centre - a centralised location for railway signalling and train control operations for a specific route or region). It seems a "pig's ear" of a scheme to me and probably fraught with difficulties.

Cost.  Short term cost.