Moves to phase out trackside signals from the UK rail network in favour of greater automation of trains took a major step forward on Friday with completion of the largest in a new generation of railway control centres.

The new building in York will be the second of 12 such centres to be installed across Britain and is set to go live in January. Its introduction follows opening of a similar, smaller facility at Three Bridges earlier this year.

Technology housed at the rail operating centres will eventually provide train drivers with information in real time about their maximum permitted speed and whether they can proceed. But before that can happen trains will need to be fitted with a train control system known as ETCS.

Communicating instructions between control centre and train promises to increase a line’s capacity to accommodate more services. It will also mean the closure of signal boxes and the demise of lineside equipment such as traffic light signals and speed signs alongside the track.

The York centre will ultimately consolidate all signalling and control operations on the East Coast Mainline between London King’s Cross and the Scottish Borders into the one location. Signals are set to be removed on part of the East Coast route by 2020.

Network Rail’s route managing director Phil Verster said: “Investment in new technology will contribute significantly to improvements in train service punctuality and increased capacity. York is the ideal place for the centre with rail links right across the country.”

Photo courtesy of Network Rail.

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