Track access controller
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Track Access Controllers perform an important safety role for London Underground. They mostly work at night during "Engineering hours" when traction current is switched off and passenger trains have stopped running. Each Track Access Controller has responsibility for an underground line (e.g. the East London line) or part of an underground line. Some lines such as the Northern line are so long and so busy that on some nights, up to 3 Track Access Controllers may be responsible for different parts of the track.
The post of the Track Access Controller (formerly the Engineering Works Controller - EWC) was created in 1983, and in 1990 they took residence in a control centre based in South-West London. Track Access Controllers must be aware of all safety and traction current arrangements on the tracks they are responsible for, all trains (engineers trains) running, and all works and "protection masters" on the track (see below for definition of protections master).
A protection master is a NVQ-licensed and certified employee or contractor who works on the track doing any type of engineering work ranging from cleaning the track through to changing rails or re-cabling the network. Any individual working on or around the track environment must be a protection master or have a protection master with them. Protection Masters rely on the Track Access Controller to keep them safe while they are working on the track (safe from traction current as well as moving trains and vehicles).
The post of Track Access Controller is highly sought after, and successful individuals are trained in many aspects of railway management. They are an "Operational manager" grade of London Underground and each must be competent to deal with multi-tasking, emergencies and conflicts of work. Their priorities are safety, completion of engineering work and the safe/timely return of the railway for passenger trains every morning. If you are ever stranded in the morning due to "overrunning of engineering work" you can be sure that a Track Access Controller somewhere is working hard to get the problem resolved for you.
It takes over 6 months to train as a Track Access Controller and the team is made up of ex-protection masters (only the best), ex Station-Supervisors, ex Senior Signalmen and other Station "Operational Manager" backgrounds. Between them they have a wealth and breadth of knowledge that is the envy of other London Underground departments. They work well under pressure, work independently, and deal with incidents and minor/major scenarios every night before authorising the turning on of traction current in the morning, allowing passenger trains to run.