Biggest railway control centre in the country opens in York

Millions of passengers who use train services between London King’s Cross and the Scottish border are set to benefit from the opening of the biggest railway control centre in the country.

The new Rail Operating Centre (ROC) in York is central to plans that will improve train performance and continue to meet growing demand for rail travel. The rail operating centre is the largest of just 12 proposed centres across Britain and will ultimately control signalling and rail operations on the east coast all the way from King’s Cross to the Scottish borders.

On Friday 12 September, Hugh Bayley MP and Phil Verster, Network Rail route managing director, marked the building’s completion. Commenting on his visit, Hugh Bayley MP said:

“It is a pleasure to open Network Rail’s new rail operating centre here in York. It is the largest in the country and a huge vote of confidence in York as a strategic railway centre.

“The new centre is a great asset to York and to the local economy.”

Hundreds of jobs have already been created and with modern training facilities next door, future generations will have the skills they need to work in the rail industry.

York is the ideal place for the centre with rail links right across the country. This investment in new technology will contribute significantly to improvements in train punctuality, increased capacity and improved services for passengers.

In January the ROC will replace the current route control building at the back of York station and will help to free up more strategic land closer to Leeman Road and the National Railway Museum.

Further signalling centres will migrate into the ROC over the coming years as part of our continuing investment in modern signalling technology.

Once fully occupied, around 400 rail people will work there. This will be a combination of Northern Rail, East Coast and Network Rail employees with a maximum of 87 on shift at any time.