<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-05-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001278382</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GLOBAL SIGNAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GSL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001292513</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Fortress Investment Holdings LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1251 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>16TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10020</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001245521</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FORTRESS INVESTMENT GROUP LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1251 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>16TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10020</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001124806</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FIG ADVISORS LLC/NY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1251 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>16TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10020</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001293245</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Fortress Fund MM LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1251 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>16TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10020</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001245518</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FORTRESS INVESTMENT FUND LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1251 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>16TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10020</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001101762</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FORTRESS REGISTERED INVESTMENT TRUST</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1251 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>16TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10020</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001293246</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FRIT PINN LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1251 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>16TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10020</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>211500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>31.47</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>211500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Drawbridge Global Macro Fund Ltd.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19662252</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Fortress Registered Investment Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By FIG Advisors LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Drawbridge Global Macro Advisors LLC is the investment advisor of Drawbridge Global Macro Fund Ltd. and may be deemed to beneficially own the shares (&quot;Shares&quot;) of common stock of Global Signal Inc. listed as beneficially owned by Drawbridge Global Macro Fund Ltd.  Fortress Investment Group LLC is the sole managing member of Drawbridge Global Macro Advisors LLC.  Fortress Investment Group LLC is 100% owned by Fortress Investment Holdings LLC, an entity which is owned by certain individuals, including Wesley R. Edens. Each reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of all reported Shares except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein, if any.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 18,222,252 Shares received in a distribution from Fortress Pinnacle Acquisition LLC.  In prior reports, Fortress Registered Investment Trust, through its wholly owned subsidiary, FRIT PINN LLC, reported beneficial ownership of 23,359,696 Shares held by Fortress Pinnacle Acquisition LLC.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">FRIT PINN LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fortress Registered Investment Trust which is 100% owned by Fortress Investment Fund LLC. Fortress Investment Fund LLC is managed by its managing member Fortress Fund MM LLC, which is managed by Fortress Investment Group LLC pursuant to a management agreement.  Fortress Investment Group LLC is 100% owned by Fortress Investment Holdings LLC. The Shares disclosed in the table as being beneficially owned by the reporting persons are also included in the Shares reported as being beneficially owned by Wesley R. Edens. Each reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of all reported Shares except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Fortress Pinnacle Investment Fund LLC, an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, received 5,137,444 Shares in a distribution from Fortress Pinnacle Acquisition LLC.  FIG Advisors LLC is the investment advisor of Fortress Pinnacle Investment Fund LLC and may be deemed to have voting power or investment power over the Shares held by Fortress Pinnacle Investment Fund LLC.  FIG Advisors LLC does not have a pecuniary interest in any such Shares and therefore disclaims beneficial ownership thereof.  FIG Advisors LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fortress Investment Group LLC.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>See signatures included in Exhibit 99.1</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-05-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
