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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-05-17</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001264701</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FOSTER JEFFREY H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O GLOBAL SIGNAL INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>301 NORTH CATTLEMEN ROAD, SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SARASOTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>34232</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP &amp; Chief Accounting Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jeffrey H. Foster</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-05-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
