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Wednesday, 5 January, 2000, 07:53 GMT

Call to update Victorian rail signals

A rail users group is calling for major investment in signalling along the north Wales coast main line, replacing Victorian technology with a more up-to-date system.

To this day, semaphore signals, which are lit by paraffin, are still being used along the rail route, which links north Wales with London and Dublin.

Intercity train

Over the next few years, rail passengers travelling along the north Wales coast can expect many improvements.

Virgin is introducing tilting trains on the Holyhead to London route and work has already started on improving the track's maximum speed to 90 mph.

But the Railway Development Society, which represents 20,000 rail users, says it is concerned that signalling is not keeping pace.

David Sallery of the society said: "It is a very ancient system which is quite uncommon on a main line of this importance."

Both rail users and the signal operators Railtrack agree that the safety of the Victorian system is not in question. They say the signals are tried and trusted.

But rail users argue that 21st century reliability cannot be achieved with 19th century technology.

Internet Links: Rail Users Consultative Committees Railway Development Society Railtrack
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