The North East Area Group and visiting guests assembled at around 17.30 hours outside the Pumpkin Café, York Station of which we adjourned to for refreshments.
The visit was to be conducted by one of our Council Members, Chris Jackson.
At around 17.50 we proceeded along the footbridge to the Network Rail IECC/Control Complex. Firstly to the Control Centre where Chris showed the group the various areas associated with the smooth running of a busy area! The group were able to ask questions to some of the various members of the control team.
We then moved into the IECC Signalling Centre whereby Chris again showed us the multitude of signalling areas associated with York IECC. Again we were invited to ask a few questions to the various signallers who were on duty. Prior to this Chris was briefly able to show us the technical electronic area and to visit the ECO which more recent has taken over Doncaster’s ECO patch. A few questions ensued here too!
The visit concluded as the group moved to the simulator room whereby the group were shown the various signalling simulators by the Instructor present, who also explained the whys and wherefores including the latest screen of the proposed takeover of the Moorthorpe Area section and here a few members were allowed to simulate various situations on the consoles.
Our sincere thanks must go to Chris Jackson and Network Rail for an excellent visit of which I think everyone who participated would have gone away far more enlightened than before about how a major Signalling and Control Centre operates.
DAVID COURT, COUNCIL MEMBER, NORTH EAST AREA