VolkerRail has completed a £6 million upgrade at Preston Station, replacing 1960s signalling infrastructure with modern LED technology during a 100-hour blockade; enhancing safety, reducing maintenance.
Preston station reopened on Monday (5 January) following a £6m upgrade to replace 1960s signalling infrastructure with modern LED technology.
VolkerRail began a 100 hour blockade on New Year's Day, closing the station to remove the outdated infrastructure and install three modern signalling gantries at the north end of the station, along with five new signal posts and 12 new LED signal heads.
The new technology not only provides clearer visibility for train drivers, but also needs less maintenance, making the railway safer for our passengers and reduces the need to close the railway for future repairs.
Christian Irwin OBE, Network Rail North West and Central region Capital Delivery director, said: “We are investing hundreds of millions of pounds to improve future journeys on the West Coast Main Line and these latest projects will make real differences to passenger and freight journeys.
"We would like to thank passengers for their patience during our work in Preston and also across the wider network this festive season."
The work at Preston forms part of a wider framework, awarded to VolkerRail in June 2025, to renew and upgrade signalling structures across the North West of England.
The programme is being delivered in three packages::
- Tranche 6A: Renewal of 24 structures and two gantries covering the route from Carlisle to the Cumbrian Coast, Chester, and Liverpool.
- Tranche 6B: Replacement of 28 structures and six gantries on the West Coast Main Line north of Warrington.
- Tranche 6C: Early design and development of a series of semaphore signal renewals.
Ashley Redmond, VolkerRail programme manager, said: “The work completed over the 100 hour blocked is a credit to both VolkerRail and Network Rail, as we continue to provide benefits to the region through our collaborative partnership.”
“I am immensely proud of everyone who worked over the holiday period and all those who worked tirelessly beforehand to complete the significant amount of planning required for a scheme of this size. Like all major works, this one was not without its challenges, however, together, we focused on providing the best engineering solution that drives improvements on cost, safety and performance; resulting in a high quality, efficient, upgrade that was handed back to Network Rail ahead of schedule.”
