Too costly to save '“ Barnham station signalbox to be demolished

Network Rail has confirmed the wooden building on the western end of platform two is to be demolished.

The work to destroy the 1911 structure is likely to take place this year but an exact date has not yet been revealed.

Network Rail spokesman Michael Cavanagh said it was hoped to donate some of the signalbox's equipment to a nearby museum to enable future generations to appreciate the equipment.

"After careful consideration, Network Rail has decided the signal box will be removed," he said.

"The decision was made on the basis most of the levers in the existing box will be used in other boxes that still require this type of technology.

"This means, even if the signalbox at Barnham remained on site or was physically moved to a different location, much of the interior would not be present. In addition, to relocate the signalbox would, if feasible, incur significant costs.

"Network Rail understands the feelings of the community and has agreed to set up a group where we can discuss decommissioning of any other signal boxes in the future."

The news of the signalbox's demise will be a disappointment to some 40 children at Barnham Primary School. They wrote Save Our Signalbox letters to the Observerin May detailing why it should be saved.

Several hundred station users also signed a petition to keep the signalbox.

It was built in the same year the branch line to Bognor Regis was increased from single to double track.

Since then, the signalmen have guided the movements of thousands of trains '“ and hundreds of thousands of passengers '“ a year.

But a 25m improvement programme to the railway station has seen the signalbox's days numbered.

A modern signalling system has been installed as part of that work. This will be housed in a new brick signalling centre further down the line on the opposite side of the railway lines.

Mr Kavanagh added: "As a result, the old signal box will no longer be needed as part of the operational railway."

Installation of the new signalling equipment follows the recent completion of work on the railway station which has seen the previously-curved platform one straightened and lengthened to accommodate 12-carriage trains for the first time.

This involved widening the road bridge next to the station to take three tracks rather than the previous two because the points previously next to platforms one and two have been moved further east by about 200m.

A reversible railway line has also been installed to enable trains from the west to use platform two if necessary. The changes are intended to make use of the three platforms as flexible as possible to avoid delays.

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