32 C O N T E X T 1 2 4 : M A Y 2 0 1 2 those where an operator can control between one and 50 signalling equivalent units (SEUs), basically a point or a signal. These boxes take 49 per cent of Network Rail’s signalling budget, but control only 18 per cent of its traffic. At the other extreme, network centres allow operators to control over 300 SEUs each, and these take four per cent of the budget to control 12 per cent of the network. It is not surprising that Network Rail wants to move to this level of economy as fast as it can afford to, particularly with current pressures on its budget. The skills that are needed to operate, and more essentially to maintain, these boxes are vanishing, and the equipment in them is old, and life-expired. The move to control centres allows the system to know the exact position of each train at any time. At present, trains in those areas of line that are mechanically signalled are not reported to the centre automatically, so they effectively vanish from the central systems until they re-emerge on to a line with more modern signalling. Network Rail reckons that it can achieve savings of at least £0.5 billion a year from closing its remaining mechanical signal boxes, but it also recognises that it cannot just demolish the entire population.After discussion with the Railway Heritage Trust, it is developing a nationwide strategy to decide which boxes should be retained, and which can go. An initial meeting with the key national parties, including English Heritage, Historic Scotland (Cadw was unable to attend), the National Railway Museum, the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers and the Heritage Railway Association, as well as Network Rail and the Railway HeritageTrust, has agreed the following strategy: To identify and classify all the signal boxes in Great Britain – not just those on Network Rail, but also those on heritage railways, on London Underground, and in private ownership. To review which boxes exist outside Network Rail and have a clear long-term future. Obviously those on heritage lines are particularly useful here, as they are still in use and can demonstrate the original purpose of the boxes in a way that any left on Network Rail could not do once they cease to be operational. To establish which boxes on the Network Rail system deserve to be retained because of their historic importance. English Heritage has done a first review of this in England, and thinks that perhaps another 40-odd boxes should be listed, on top of the 84 that already are. It is hoped that Cadw and Historic Scotland will be able to do similar exercises. To decide what to do with the listed boxes. Can they be successfully relocated, or converted to another use in situ? Network Rail is not funded to maintain listed buildings and many, particularly those that are very close to the track, can not be maintained without closure of the line.That makes community involvement for these very difficult, so the selection of boxes for listing should try to go for those that are remote from the track. The closure of the mechanical signal boxes does not just concern the buildings. The instruments, signs and other paraphernalia within the boxes all need to be recorded before they are removed. Leaving these items in a closed box guarantees that they will be stolen within days. The equipment within them has to be managed in order to ensure that Network Rail has enough spare parts to keep its remaining boxes working during the run-down, and that an adequate supply of those parts is handed over to the heritage railway sector to enable them to maintain their boxes in operation. The stories of the boxes must be recorded. A way of life is coming to an end. Network Rail is working with the National Railway Museum to photograph and video the boxes in use before they close, and to record the tales of the signallers. The Railway Heritage Trust has given advice at the start of this process. It expects to be deeply involved in giving grants to bodies that wish to adopt signal boxes, whether for relocation off the railway to a new use, or for providing a community or commercial facility in the original location. This will not work for every box, and there will be more like that at Dawlish, where the listed box is rotting away, too close to the operational railway, and of no interest to anyone. Perhaps the biggest challenge will be what to do with those listed boxes that should be kept for historic reasons, but are too close to the line for any community or commercial group to be able to maintain.Will they all gently rot away over the decades, or can the industry and local groups find a way of maintaining and using them? Andy Savage is executive director of the Railway Heritage Trust. Signal boxes at Spean Bridge and Aberdour
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