IECC Timetable Processor Upgrade Case Study

IECC Timetable Processor Upgrade

The Product

DeltaRail supplies the Integrated Electronic Control Centre (IECC), Network Rail's flagship signalling control system in the UK.  Widely used across the network, it enables signallers to manage train traffic over some of the busiest routes in the UK.

A key feature of the IECC is Automatic Routesetting (ARS) which ensures trains run to timetable and prioritises traffic in the event of disruption.  This frees up signallers to focus on less routine tasks, improving efficiency and reducing delays.  ARS operates on the processed content of the operational timetable, maintained by Network Rail as a nationwide database.  The Timetable Processor (TTP) imports the timetables to the IECC allowing local and short-term changes to be made as required.

By October 2008 DeltaRail had introduced their upgraded version of the TTP to the whole installed IECC base.

The Benefits

The timetable processor upgrade provides the following benefits:

• Improved automatic train regulation due to improvements in the timetable information used by ARS.  Improved facilities mean timetables can be validated early enough to make the corrections/updates required.  Better timetable editing facilities allow earlier updates to be made when local and/or late changes to the timetable are required.
• Automatic generation of customisable train simplifiers for a range of users including signalling and platform staff.  As the information comes from a common single source, this ensures consistent operation at a lower cost than manual production.
• Speedy and better presentation of timetable information means that operational staff can make decisions based on real on-the-day data, reducing delays and boosting efficiency.
• Using off-the-shelf hardware and a commercial operating system addresses obsolescence and reduces future development costs.