£49 million signalling works complete on Portsmouth Direct line

£49 million signalling works on the Portsmouth Direct line have been completed by Alstom, bringing new signalling equipment, first-of-type level crossing solutions and related assets to the section between Farncombe in Surrey and Petersfield in Hampshire (as outlined by Alstom).

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The programme updates a stretch of railway built more than 150 years ago. Alstom says the package is intended to strengthen reliability for passengers and freight operators, improve asset performance for Network Rail, and make the route safer for track workers.

Delivery under the Major Signalling Framework Agreement (MSFA)

The project forms part of the Southern Region’s Major Signalling Framework Agreement (MSFA), secured by Alstom in 2020. Working with Network Rail and its supply chain, the work renewed life-expired assets and introduced digital-ready technologies along the route.

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Within this Alstom signalling upgrade, control of the area’s signalling moved from three local signal boxes to Network Rail’s Basingstoke Rail Operating Centre (ROC) using Alstom’s modular remote signalling control. The company says its digital interlockings were deployed to lift reliability, performance and capacity.

Level crossing upgrades and new safety systems

Across the Farncombe to Petersfield line, level crossing upgrades covered eleven crossings, focused on safety and operational resilience. In parallel, work on seven crossings introduced new obstacle-detection technology, with the final one made operational during the first weekend in December.

Two crossings also received CCTV technology to improve safety for road users and give signallers clearer visibility of the line. Additionally, two foot crossings were fitted with miniature warning stop lights (MSL).

Testing during the Guildford–Havant closure

Commissioning was concentrated into a nine-day closure between Guildford and Havant in November 2025. Over that period, Alstom engineers tested 90 new LED signals, laid more than 30km of new cable, and brought 17 new SmartIO object controllers into use alongside new equipment housings (as also covered by Railway Supply).

The programme also replaced track circuits with axle counters. Alstom said this delivers a 50% power saving across the project area and improves safety for trackside maintenance staff.

SmartIO is described by Alstom as a digital system that connects trackside equipment—such as signals and points—directly to a central control system, supporting safer and more efficient operations and simpler maintenance. The trackside equipment housing does not require air conditioning, heating or domestic power supplies, which Alstom said helps reduce carbon emissions and costs.

Emmanuel Henry, Digital and Integrated Systems Managing Director UK and Ireland at Alstom, said the company was proud to partner on what he described as one of the most significant investments ever made on the Portsmouth Direct line, replacing life-expired equipment with cutting-edge technology intended to transform reliability and performance for years to come. He added that introducing digital-ready signalling and advanced level crossing systems modernises a route that dates back more than 150 years and creates a foundation for the digital railway of the future.

Henry also highlighted delivery during the nine-day closure with zero injuries, saying the outcome reflected the partnership with Network Rail and the supply chain, and a shared commitment to innovation, sustainability and passenger experience.

Alstom said its programme was the final piece of Network Rail’s wider £129 million Portsmouth Direct Upgrade, which has delivered major improvements between London Waterloo and Portsmouth Harbour—one of the UK’s busiest commuter routes (see Network Rail’s Portsmouth Direct Upgrade).

Network Rail Operations Director Tom Desmond said the organisation has been delivering upgrades along the Portsmouth Direct line since early 2022. He said the £129 million investment brings the route further into the modern era, with new signalling and safer level crossings expected to make journeys more reliable and reduce the need for future closures, while thanking passengers for their patience during the long-term work.

Alstom also referenced its Onvia mainline signalling portfolio, describing it as part of wider digital railway transformation driven by R&D and alignment with evolving industry regulations. The company noted that Onvia experience includes more than 300 ETCS (European Train Control System) projects, 25,000 onboard units and 23,000km of lines equipped worldwide.

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