Rail control centre collaboration set to benefit millions of WCML passengers

Passengers using the West Coast Main Line are expected to see improvements in reliability following a new joint working arrangement introduced at a railway control centre in Warwickshire.

London Northwestern Railway has strengthened its presence at Network Rail’s Rail Operations Centre in Rugby by relocating dozens of staff to work directly alongside Network Rail control teams. The move brings train operator and infrastructure decision-making together in one location, allowing faster responses when problems arise on the network.

The Rugby centre, situated close to the town’s railway station, oversees more than 154 miles of railway between London Euston and Crewe. By uniting track and train control under one roof, teams can co-ordinate more effectively during disruption, helping to maintain services on one of the country’s busiest rail corridors.

London Northwestern Railway operates thousands of services every week, linking key destinations including London Euston, Milton Keynes, Birmingham and Liverpool. Its control teams were previously based in the West Midlands, but the operator has expanded its footprint at Rugby in recent months, introducing specialist staff who now work alongside Network Rail colleagues seven days a week.

The control floor has been designed to accommodate future growth, with space to expand the joint operation as the rail industry transitions towards Great British Railways. The long-term aim is for an increasing share of operational decisions to be taken within the centre, improving collaboration across the network for both passenger and freight services.

The facility also hosts a dedicated British Transport Police desk, allowing closer co-operation when incidents require police involvement on the railway.

Alex Curtis, head of control for London Northwestern Railway, said:

“We carry millions of passengers on our services every month and we are committed to making every journey as reliable and efficient as possible. Although invisible to our customers, our control room plays a vital role behind the scenes in making quick decisions which keep services running on some of the busiest railway in Europe. Working side-by-side with Network Rail at our new base in Rugby gives us the ability to respond quickly and dynamically to issues which crop up on the rail network and keep passengers on the move. As well as benefitting our customers it has been great to bring new skilled jobs and training to this strategically-important location in Warwickshire.”

Network Rail said the changes are already delivering tangible benefits by speeding up decision-making and improving communication between teams.

Paul Dellow, head of control for Network Rail, said:

“Bringing our teams together at Rugby ROC is already transforming the way we run the railway. Decisions that once took far too long are now made face-to-face in minutes, helping us keep passengers and freight moving. We’ve deliberately designed this facility to be future-proof, with space to grow as the railway moves towards Great British Railways. My ideal scenario is that all operational decision-making happens right here in this room, and we’re well on the way to making that a reality.”

Image: London Northwestern Railway