London Bridge Area Signalling Centre(ASC) is a signalling centre on the Kent Route of Network Rail Ltd. on the railway in Great Britain, principally covering the line from London (Charing Cross, Cannon Street and London Bridge) to Kent and Sussex route areas of Network Rail Ltd. The signalling centre opened in 1974.
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The development of London Bridge ASC
During 1974/75, the first section of the control panel in London Bridge ASC was commissioned, gradually replacing redundant signalling locations in the area and principally replacing the old 1923-built London Bridge signal box. Railway track layouts were altered to separate Cannon Street, Charing Cross and London Bridge (Central) traffic. Prior to the London Bridge ASC, Cannon Street and Charing Cross traffic arrived at London Bridge on all lines and was either signalled approaching or leaving London Bridge station to their respective destinations. With the development of London Bridge ASC, all this traffic was sorted out further outside London Bridge, mainly at Parks Bridge but occasionally in the New Cross area. The London Bridge central traffic was kept as a separate working railway from the eastern side.
The signalling centre
The signalling centre is a two-storey building. The upper section is about two-thirds the length and slightly wider than the lower storey. It is clad with white concrete slabs in a contrast to the lower storey's brown walls. The signalling centre houses some of the signalling equipment and the offices and mess facilities for the signals maintenance team. The operating floor houses the control panels.
Operating floor
The operating floor is occupied by two large, almost semi-circular, control panels with their inner surfaces facing each other like a pair of punctuation parentheses '( )'. These consist of a large overview diagram that displays all the track and signals and positions of trains outside, essential to the punctual operation and regulating of traffic in such a complex and busy area. In front of the overview diagram are the control panels/desks which also mimic the almost semi-circular layout of the overview diagram. In the middle of the floor is a large oval dais that has two banks of work panels/desks that face the overview diagram. This is where the signalling centre supervisor and other operating staff work.
Area of control
London Bridge ASC controls just over 51 route miles, which is just over 141 track miles. It signals over 2250 trains in its area every weekday. The control panels are divided into nine manageable panels. The signalling centre is open twenty-four hours a day every day of the year. It takes a total of 60 signallers and 4 shift signalling managers to run the place. There are also signal maintenance staff who are on hand around the clock to carry out essential maintenance and attend any faults that occur.