NOVEMBER 2 marked the end of an era for Northern Ireland Railways (NIR) when at 21.00 the signal cabins at Derry/Londonderry and Castlerock were switched out for the last time.
The switch off is part of a £46million signalling upgrade, with the line in future being controlled from a new signalling centre within the station building at Coleraine.
The centre was due to come on line in November 2016 following an 18-day closure of the line between Coleraine and Derry/Londonderry.
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The closure of Castlerock was particularly significant, it being the last lever-framed operational ’box on the NIR network.
The Babcock International Group has been commissioned to complete the upgrade work, including the removal of the Castlerock passing loop, which will be replaced by the new loop at Bellarena.
Read more in the December issue of The RM
