Rail Express Magazine 280 - September 2019 Back Issue

NETWORK Rail’s National Operations Centre is a fascinating place, perhaps one that few outside of the industry know exists, and this month our contributor Phil Marsh was lucky enough to spend some time there observing the work done to keep services running on time.

The NOC monitors the entire network around the clock, overseeing local route control and stepping in when major incidents occur. Problems that affect passenger and freight services range from simple to complicated, serious to ridiculous – although even sombrero wearing drunks (as happened when Phil was there) need to be taken seriously when they are near to moving trains, while far too often the team has to deal with the sad news of a suicide on railway property.

The NOC also deals with more everyday aspects of operations – such as incorrectly loaded wagons, or vehicles with wheel flatspots – as well as planning for extreme weather or anticipating disruptions that large public demonstrations might pose to services. Perhaps less well known is its role in helping struggling operations get back on track (no pun intended). This has been done with mail services in the recent past, while Caledonian
Sleepers are currently in the spotlight after a series of high-profile failures. In a similar vein, the NOC oversees charter train operations, which also have the potential to affect regular services if things go wrong.

Based in Milton Keynes, it is a fascinating aspect of our railway operations and we thank the team for letting us see them in action.