Wessex Intergrated Control Centre (WICC)

Client: South West Trains
Duration: 18 Months to August 2004
Value: £2.6m

Project Overview
The Wessex Integrated Control Centre (WICC) is based in London Waterloo Station at the heart of the railway network in the South West of England. The centre brings together 120 controllers from both SWT and Network Rail staff to work together and thus improving communications and is unique to the UK Rail Industry as it is the first truly integrated control centre since privatisation. Around 2,000 trains a day are controlled by The Wessex Integrated Control Centre (WICC), and is responsible for over 600 route miles. The control centre is staffed 24 hours and over 1,000 phone calls a day are made. The project was funded by SWT, Network Rail and the Strategic Rail Authority. Fit-out works included building services (power, lighting) IT, telecomms, CCTV, and security works.

CPC’s Role
The dedicated Project Manager from CPC successfully managed the building fit out in an operational station environment and delivered information and telephony systems on time and to budget through the entire project cycle from inception to completion. CPC managed the successful transfer of operating systems from the old to the new control whilst keeping the railway running. CPC also managed the organization change required including HR and safety validation of the new roles and posts. The move which included transferring and installing twenty different computer systems was planned to the minute and risks managed. CPC was able to manage the expectations of the stakeholders and ensure that the Rt. Hon Alistair Darling opened the centre for business as planned on 8 February 2004.

Client Benefits
CPC has helped SWT in providing an industry pilot for the integration of train control operations, and also a reduction in train delays particularly during major incidents. Network Rail and SWT controllers work alongside each other thus allowing better communication, quicker responses to incidents and therefore better service to passengers. The design included a full analysis of the lines of communication between controllers so that the room was laid out optimizing the communication paths. The WICC makes use of the latest technology to help controllers communicate more effectively. .