US&amp&semicolan#38&semicolanS gets green light for $134m East Coast signal work

<p>The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has signed Union Switch and Signal (US&#38S) as its first alliance partner for its $1.4bn upgrade on the Hunter Valley and east coast rail networks.</p> <p>US&#38S, a subsidiary of Italian Ansaldo Signal, has signed up for an estimated $134m worth of signalling works that will include the replacement of the much-derided antique electric staff signalling system.</p> <p>"ARTC is pleased to have its first package underway only four months after going to the market for alliance partners for the six packages of works on ARTC’s north-south corridor and Hunter Valley network," ARTC chief executive David Marchant said.</p> <p>The US&#38S alliance will begin work immediately on a three-year program of works including:</p> <p>Reconfiguring signalling to achieve consistent 10-minute headways on the lower Hunter’s double track between Maitland and Antiene</p> <p>Maximising capacity through level crossing and passing loop reconfiguration and the placement of speed boards on the Hunter Valley and North Coast corridor</p> <p>Installing dynamic turnout indicators on the north coast corridor and</p> <p>New signalling and reconfiguration of existing signalling on new projects and crossing loop extensions.</p> <p>The work will also include the replacement of the electric staff signalling systems still employed on parts of the North Coast and Hunter Valley rail networks.</p> <p>The signalling works will be sequenced and coordinated to ensure there was no negative impact on operations along the corridor, ARTC said.</p> <br />