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Atkins, the design and engineering consultancy, has completed the first and most critical phase of its three-year, £65 million contract with Network Rail to undertake a major resignalling and infrastructure upgrade in and around Basingstoke.

The first of three commissioning stages took place during a 10-day blockade over Easter.

Further commission stages are scheduled for May and August 2008. The works will ultimately have incorporated a total of 185 new signals, covering more than 60 miles of line.

Ian Walker of Atkins’ Rail division says, “The first stage of commissioning was always going to be the most difficult because it includes the track remodelling and resignalling of Great Western Junction adjacent to Basingstoke station and the bringing into service of the new Signalling Control Centre. Our focus is now on the signalling design and civils installation works, leading up to the second phase of commissioning next year.”