Signal box contract for Belgosignal

has approved a contract with Belgosignal, the temporary company set up by

and

Belgium, for the supply and installation of new signalling box equipment.

The project, worth a total of €414m, will be fulfilled in the form of a framework contract covering the period 2007 to 2012. It covers the points part of the signalling boxes, with the installation of 'Jade', 'TFM' and 'Smartlock 400' traffic management equipment in the 1,400 cabinets to be built and placed along the tracks. Siemens Belgium is in charge of the traffic supervision equipment in the 31 boxes.

The project scope covers the definition of the systems, the purchasing of parts, construction of the equipment and deployment, to a timeframe set by Infrabel.

By 2012, the Infrabel network will have been streamlined to consist of just 31 new control centres, plus 11 that can be controlled remotely, against the 368 signalling boxes currently in operation. These new electronic centres and their very high level installations will strengthen network safety and increase the regularity of traffic.