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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-06-02</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <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, 16TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></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>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>23359696</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Fortress Pinnacle Acquisition LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1440000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By FRIT PINN LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>18</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-06-08</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-06-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, par value $.01 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>560000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By FRIT PINN LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The amount reported includes 23,359,696 shares held by Fortress Pinnacle Acquisition LLC, a majority-owned subsidiary of FRIT PINN LLC. FRIT PINN LLC also directly holds 1,440,000 shares and options to purchase 560,000 shares. 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 such shares except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>See signatures included in Exhibit 99.1</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

