A new dawn for time

The time signal used to set Britain’s clocks with extreme accuracy is on the move from Rugby, where it has been transmitted since 1927, to a new home in Anthorn in Cumbria. The signal, often referred to as ‘The time from Rugby’, will be known as ‘The Time from NPL’ from April next year.

The time signal is accurate to within one thousandth of a second and supports several rail services. Most rail operators use the signal to underpin their communication systems and signalling. It is used to monitor trains across the network and the clocks at most mainline stations are also tied to the National Physical Laboratory’s (NPL’s) time signal.

The National Physical Laboratory is home to the nation’s atomic time and one of only five laboratories worldwide using the latest caesium fountain to contribute to the world time standard Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).The signal’s transmission is tied to NPL’s atomic clocks at Teddington in South West London.