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ABERDEEN TO INVERNESS ENHANCEMENTS PROJECT: PHASE 1 - WEST

GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE SCHEME
Phase 1 of Aberdeen to Inverness Enhancements Project, commissioned on Tuesday 17th October 2017, affects the line between Keith Junction Signal Box to Inverness Signalling Centre.
This section of route previously controlled from Elgin, Forres and Nairn Signal Boxes will now be controlled from Inverness Signalling Centre 'Highland Workstation'.

Works associated with this scheme will comprise:
• Track works at Elgin and Forres.
• New Station at Forres.
• Level crossing alterations and closures.
• Construction of a new road over rail bridge and widening of existing bridges.
• Signalling and telecoms works.
• Removal of token exchange arrangements at Elgin, Nairn and Forres.


PERMANENT WAY ALTERATIONS
Elgin
The down passenger loop at Elgin is extended and is now bi-directional. The double track section extends over Elgin level crossing. New motorised points have been installed at the entry to Elgin Yard and the sidings within the yard have been partially re-laid and re-aligned.
Forres
The Up and Down Main lines at Forres are re-aligned and are now bi-directional. The loop is also extended and is now bi-directional.

ALTERATIONS TO GROUND FRAMES
Alves Ground Frame has been abolished and the connection to Burghead (goods line) removed.
Control of Nairn Ground Frame is transferred to Inverness Signalling Centre Highland Workstation. A new lineside telephone has been provided to communicate with the Signaller.
Elgin Ground Frame controls are removed and replaced with motorised points controlled by the Signaller at Inverness Signalling Centre Highland Workstation.

CHANGES TO LINE NAMES
The Up and Down Main line between Keith Junction Signal Box and Elgin is re-named Up and Down East Single Line.
At Elgin the Down Loop is renamed Up and Down Elgin Loop.
At Forres the new layout is named Up and Down East Single Line and Up and Down Forres Loop.
At Nairn the Up and Down Main Line is renamed Up and Down East Single Line and the Up Loop is renamed Up
Nairn Loop.

CHANGES TO METHOD OF WORKING
Down Direction
Scottish Tokenless Block regulations apply from KJ5 and KJ8 signals at Keith Junction Signal Box and HE7733 signal at (Elgin East) Inverness Signalling Centre Highland Workstation.
Track Circuit Block regulations (with axle counter instructions) apply from HE7733 signal at (Elgin East) Inverness Signalling Centre Highland Workstation to Inverness Track Circuit Block panel.
Up Direction
Track Circuit Block regulations (with axle counter instructions) apply from I390 signals at Inverness SC TCB panel to HE7736 and HE7738 signals at (Elgin Station) Inverness Signalling Centre Highland Workstation.
Scottish Tokenless Block regulations apply from HE7736 and HE7738 signals at (Elgin Station) Inverness SC
Highland Workstation to Keith Junction Signal Box.
TRAIN DETECTION
Axle Counters have been installed between 30m 756 yards (Keith Station) and 128m 660 yards (Nairn)
An Axle counter section already exists between Nairn and Inverness.

SIGNALLING ALTERATIONS
Removed Signals
All FS and EL prefixed signals controlled from Forres and Elgin Signal Boxes are removed.
Altered Signals
• Signals in the former Nairn Signal Box area of control have been renumbered and the prefix changed from NA to HN.
• Signal signage has been altered to reflect the revised working arrangements.
New Signals
All new main aspect signals are LED type, and are prefixed HE.


LEVEL CROSSINGS
The following crossings formerly controlled from Forres Signal Box will be upgraded.
• Bogton Nursery - User Worked Crossing ANI2 0m 71ch will be upgraded with duplicated Miniature Stop Lights.
Telephones will also be provided to communicate with the Signaller at Inverness Signalling Centre Highland Workstation.
The following crossings formerly controlled from Forres Signal Box will be permanently closed.
• Bogton Sewage Works – User Worked Crossing with Telephone – ANI2 0m 56ch
• Waterford – Manual Level Crossing Remotely Controlled – ANI2 0m 23ch
The following crossings formerly controlled from Elgin Signal Box will be upgraded.
• Elgin Level Crossing located at 11m 74ch will be converted to Manually Controlled Barriers with CCTV supervision from Inverness Signalling Centre Highland Workstation.

STAFF PROTECTION
There are three staff protection lockouts provided under this project.
Forres Station Lockout 8565 protects both the East Single Line and Forres Loop from HE7803 to HE7810 and is realised from Highland Workstation. A telephone is provided at the lockout instrument.
Elgin Platform 1 Lockout 8555 prevents routes being set from HE7733 or HE7746 to the East Single Line (Platform 1).
Elgin Platform 2 Lockout 8556 prevents routes being set from HE7733 or HE7746 to Elgin Loop (Platform 2).
Signal Post telephone for HE7738 and HE7736 will be used to contact the Signaller at Inverness Signalling
Centre Highland Workstation for a release of these lockouts.

NEW STATIONS/ALTERATION TO EXISTING STATIONS
The old Forres Station is now closed and a New 2 platform station has been built. Platforms at Elgin have been
extended. The new platform lengths are 160m

Train Ready to Start (TRST)
Elgin Platform 1 and platform 2 has been provided with 2 TRTS units for train despatch. Additionally TRTS is provided at HE7741 and HE 7743 signals.

CHANGE OF MILEAGE AT FORREs
The 'change of Mileage' at Forres is altered by this project, affecting ELR='ANI2' (Miles from Forres to Keith) ELR='ANI3' (Miles from Perth via Dava).

Change of Mileage ANI2/ANI3 was previously at the old Forres Station 0M+00ch/119M+26ch.
Now the change ANI2/ANI3 is 0M+00ch/119M 29ch, immediately West of the new road overbridge.

The Mileage of the new Forres station is given as ANI2 0M+07ch
The deviation from the previous route east of Forres is at ANI2 0M+22ch
The deviation from the previous route west of Forres is at ANI3 119M+42ch