Originally Posted by
Quincy M.E.
But software has not replaced them and the last time I was at Swindon B signal box (which is IECC just like Slough new) they seemed to be pretty busy to me.
Indeed, in some circumstances the software has taken over a lot of the drudgery from the signalmen. But even in the most automated of signalboxes, the signalmen/women are still there in significant numbers, manually handling the many situations that the automatics don't handle well.
And of course only a small amount of the rail network runs on the latest automated systems simply because the money isn't there to install the new systems. Much of the network runs on non-computerised signalling systems that are at least 30 years old and often older. In the recent upgrade of the Manchester area they even left the ancient pull-lever signalboxes in place to save on money!
Sound familiar?