Flagship rail centre set for green light

Network Rail has drawn up plans for the Rail Operating Centre (ROC), which is one of just 14 proposed sites across Britain. The facility in York would control rail operations on the East Coast Main Line from London to the Scottish Borders.

York Council’s planning officers have claimed it is the type of “sustainable economic development” which both the Government and the authority itself wish to see delivered. The blueprints have been recommended for approval when the council’s planning committee meets on Wednesday.

The ROC is earmarked for a site of disused land next to York’s railway station and would be the largest of its kind, enabling services such as signalling and traffic control to be centralised into a single base. The proposed development has received the backing of council leader James Alexander.

But Network Rail has admitted it would create no additional jobs for the city, with the 475 people employed there either existing railway workers in York or personnel moved from other parts of the region. It raised fears that “consolidating” jobs in York would lead to the closure of signal boxes throughout Yorkshire, with staff offered early retirement or voluntary redundancy.

It emerged last month that archaeological work to prepare the site had uncovered the foundations of three so-called roundhouses used to service steam locomotives as far back as the mid-19th century.

Council planners have stressed that at least 95 per cent of the foundations are due to be preserved, and a glass viewing panel in the ROC’s floor could be installed to showcase the remains.