Network Rail has unveiled a brand-new, cutting-edge training hub in Selhurst, South London, marking a significant upgrade from its previous facility for preparing the railway’s vital rapid response teams. The centre, which officially opened on Wednesday, March 26th, will provide comprehensive training in crucial operational areas, including railway signalling and electrical control room operation.
The Selhurst hub will offer essential courses on railway signalling – the system of “traffic lights” that ensures the safe movement of trains across the network – and the intricate operation of electrical control rooms, where the railway’s power supply is managed.
Crucially, the new facility will equip trainee signallers with the skills to operate both modern and legacy signalling systems. They will gain experience on state-of-the-art simulators replicating the advanced workstations found at the Three Bridges Rail Operating Centre and Wessex Integrated Control Centre, as well as learning the intricacies of older, 1970s-style signalling control panels still in use on certain parts of the UK rail network.
Furthermore, the Selhurst hub will serve as a central base with enhanced facilities for Mobile Operations Managers (MOMs), the railway’s rapid incident response teams. This consolidation makes the Selhurst site unique as the only Network Rail training hub capable of delivering all core operational training – encompassing all types of signalling and electrical control room operation – under one roof.
The main building at the Selhurst site now boasts three modern training rooms equipped with advanced signalling simulators. It also provides 24/7 accommodation for the Mobile Operations Managers who serve the Sussex region, ensuring they have a dedicated base for their critical work. The electrical control room operator training will be conducted in a purpose-built modular building located at the rear 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.”
The opening of the Selhurst training hub underscores Network Rail’s commitment to ensuring a highly skilled and prepared workforce, ready to manage the complexities of the modern railway and respond effectively to any incidents that may occur. This investment in training is seen as vital for maintaining a safe and efficient railway for passengers across the region.
