Network Rail’s Wales & Borders division has successfully trialled Universal Signalling’s ‘U-Cross’ system, a UK-first mainline technology designed to deliver next-generation, safer signalling to rural railway lines. The trial, conducted on the Heart of Wales line, marks a significant step forward in improving safety and operational efficiency on rural lines across Britain.
Developed by Universal Signalling and first demonstrated at the Global Centre of Rail Excellence in Onllwyn, South Wales, in 2024, the system provides signallers with real-time information on train locations. This enables faster, safer decisions at user-worked crossings, commonly used by farmers, landowners and rural communities.
User-worked crossings require users to contact a signaller by telephone before crossing. Although existing procedures are safe, signallers often rely on train-location information from multiple sources, which can result in delays. ‘U-Cross’ addresses this by giving signallers instant situational awareness, including the exact time available to cross safely before a train arrives.
Great, as long as network rail isn’t tempted to downgrade crossings that have lights/barriers to user worked as a cost saving measure.
Would be nice if this additional location data became available via the open apis that power the moving map graphics on opentraintimes, tracks, etc. Unless that would be tempting fate in terms of an uncertain data feed service level
It would be a bad idea, since it would encourage people to cross the line without looking. Which is rather dangerous.