IECC (Integrated Electronic Control Centre)
Network Rail's computerised signalling control system for managing train movements across controlled areas.
What it is
About IECC (Integrated Electronic Control Centre)
The Integrated Electronic Control Centre (IECC) is the computerised train describer and route-setting system used across the Network Rail main line signalling infrastructure in Great Britain. It replaced the traditional entrance-exit (NX) panel and lever frames in major signalling centres from the 1990s onward. The IECC displays train descriptions (the 4-character train reporting number identifying each service), automatically berths descriptions from one signal section to the next as trains move through the controlled area, and provides the interface through which signallers set routes, cancel signals, and monitor the state of the controlled area. The system interfaces with the signalling logic processor (SSI — Solid State Interlocking) which enforces the physical safety rules; the IECC is the workstation through which signallers interact with it. For railway signallers, the IECC is the primary daily tool. A signaller monitors VDU screens showing the controlled area, sets routes for approaching trains, manages conflicts between services, and responds to failures or irregularities in the signalling system. The workstation displays track circuit occupation (which sections are occupied by trains), signal aspects, and automatic route-setting status. TRUST (Train Running System Totfern) integration allows comparison between planned and actual train movements, and communication systems (telephone, GSM-R radio) are integrated into the workstation. Competence to operate the IECC for a specific controlled area is awarded through a structured signalling training and assessment programme approved by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).
What you can do with it
Capabilities
Set a route for an approaching train by selecting the entrance and exit berths in the IECC, confirming the route through points and signals.
Monitor train descriptions berth-to-berth across the controlled area and identify any discrepancies between the TRUST timetable and actual running.
Cancel a set route and implement emergency working procedures when a signal failure occurs, following the Rule Book and local instructions.
Record a Signaller's Irregularity Report (SIR) for any departure from normal working, documenting the time, location, and action taken.
Communicate with a train driver via GSM-R radio to obtain authority for a movement under Regulation when normal signalling is unavailable.
How to learn it
Learning Resources
Network Rail Signalling Training Programme — structured employer-funded route; requires employment as a trainee signaller
Network Rail Rule Book — Module S1 to S7 (available to signalling staff via Network Rail's intranet and NR published documents)
ORR (Office of Rail and Road) Training Standards — ovr.gov.uk publishes the competency management framework applicable to safety-critical signalling roles
IRSE (Institution of Railway Signal Engineers) — professional body for signalling engineers; resources and mentoring at irse.org
Pro Tip
Understand the physical geography of your controlled area before relying on the screen. A signaller who can mentally visualise the track layout, junction geometry, and signal sighting distances will catch anomalies in the IECC display that a screen-only operator will miss.
Skills that use this tool
Roles that use this tool
Alternatives