Network Rail opens new training hub at Selhurst

A new railway training hub opened in Selhurst, Croydon on Wednesday, March 26.

The training hub will offer courses in railway signalling, the traffic lights of the railway which controls the safe movement of trains on the network, and electrical control room operation, where the railway’s power supply is controlled.

New signallers will be trained to operate modern signalling workstations which can be found at the state of the art Three Bridges Rail Operating Centre and Wessex Integrated Control Centre, and in the old style, 1970s signalling control panels which remain in use on parts of the network.

The new training hub will also provide a base and new facilities for mobile operations managers, the rapid incident response teams of the railway.

This is the only Network Rail training hub that will be able to offer all operational training under one roof with all types of signalling training, as well as electric control room operator training.

The main building at Selhurst now offers three training rooms with state-of-the-art simulators for signalling training plus 24/7 accommodation for the mobile operations managers that serve the Sussex area.

The electric control room operator training will take place in a modular building at the back of the site.

Lucy McAuliffe, Network Rail’s Sussex route director, said: “Our people are our assets just as much as our infrastructure and we are keen to attract, invest in, and develop our staff.

“We want all our people to feel empowered to succeed.

“The new training hub at Selhurst will provide solid training and development opportunities to enhance their knowledge, increase confidence and enable them to achieve career ambitions.

“As we continue to grow and become more technologically advanced with more advanced signalling, the skills learnt will help us meet the exciting challenges that lie ahead.”

What is an electrical control room?

A railway electrical control room is like the nerve centre for the railway's electrical system.

Electrical control room operators are responsible for monitoring and controlling the electricity that powers the trains.

What is railway signalling?

Railway signalling is essentially a sophisticated traffic light system for trains.

It ensures that trains move safely and efficiently across the railway network.

It tells train drivers when it's safe to proceed, when to slow down, and when to stop.

Signallers are the people who operate it to keep trains moving safely and efficiently.

They control signals, monitor the network, communicate with railway staff, and prioritise safety at all time