Signalling change

There can be no movement of key workers and vital goods by rail without signallers to control the passage of trains on the network. Homeworking is not an option for signaller

John Doyle, who joined Network Rail some 18 months ago as a signaller at Hammerton signal box on the York-Harrogate line.

John is now based at NR’s Rail Operating Centre in York, where he says it is largely business as usual despite the significant reductions to normal running and the emergency timetables that have been put in place across the network.

“As you can imagine, the ROC is a much calmer place at the moment, which has taken some of the pressure off us,” he says.

“We remain fully staffed and no workstations have been closed, but it has enabled us to plan ahead more efficiently and has had a definite impact on the number of delays.

“It’s also fair to say that there have been far fewer incidents of trespass, which is good news for passengers and makes for a far less stressful day. Long may that continue.”

With some members of staff currently self-isolating, John says that workloads have largely been absorbed by providing the remaining staff with additional opportunities to work overtime.

NR has also recruited more than 200 retired signalmen from across the Eastern Region to return to their former roles if necessary, although at the time this issue of RAIL went to press it remained a contingency measure that had not yet been used.

John adds: “The good thing about being at the ROC instead of a signal box is that you feel part of a team, and we can exchange ideas and generally support each other. NR has also been very proactive in that their door is always open if we have any problems or anxieties.

“The Coronavirus has posed a bit of a challenge for signallers, but I’ve no doubt we’ll get through this together and out the other side.”