Minister to open signal box (From Thisisdorset)

Minister to open signal box

5:30pm Wednesday 16th May 2012 in Latest By

TRANSPORT minister Theresa Villiers will make tracks to a Dorset heritage railway to officially open a new signal box.

She will visit the Swanage Railway tomorrow for the ceremony at Corfe Castle before travelling on a steam train down the relaid Purbeck line.

The signal box will enable regular trains to travel onto the main line towards Wareham, a dream of Swanage Railway volunteers since the line was rebuilt.

It will be connected to Network Rail’s signalling centre once the £33million Poole to Wool re-signalling scheme is complete next year.

The signal box was built at Corfe Castle station in 2008 costing £48,000.

It was made to look like an original Victorian box which had stood on the same site and won a heritage award.

Corfe Castle signal box project manager Mike Whitwam said: “We’re delighted the Minister of State for Transport has accepted our invitation to open the new Corfe Castle signal box.

“It’s a tremendous honour and an acknowledgement of the signal box’s importance as part of the re-instatement of regular passenger trains between Swanage and Wareham.”