Meanwhile... the rest of the world disseminates information (correct or otherwise) faster than ever.
Fully appreciate the challenges but it does feel like certain areas are playing catch-up.
If I were to draw parallels:
Rugby referees vs football referees (we get to hear what the rugby refs are saying, football is a different matter)
DLR train captains (non-drivers) having real-time radio contact with base versus national rail drivers seemingly only having contact with signallers on an ad-hoc basis
Fully understand retro-fitting real-time comms isn't simplistic but I'd love to hear that it was a goal and a very near-term goal, at that.
Of course the incorrect version, is of no use to anyone, and can make it worse than no information at all. and of course it tends to be, the quicker it is, the more likely it is to be wrong !
There is no easy answer, If we take Romford ROC, where they cover Liverpool Street to Kings Lynn, Stansted. Southend, Norwich, Harwich, Clacton, Lowestoft, Yarmouth, Sudbury, Braintree, Felixstowe. Bury, Cambridge, there is an Inner and Outer Controller, who when the job goes belly up will have a fair deal on his plate, but the nature of the GE and WA is that anything in the Outer will quickly affect the Inner and vice versa.
Control will then be dealing with the NR Controllers, they will have the Stations calling in asking what is going on, trying to get trains turned round, or retimed, but at the same time taking into account what the crew do on that service, and their next diagram, they will also of course be taking calls from Guards also asking what is happening, their phone concentrator will be lit up like the Las Vegas strip !
Trying to get accurate info out quickly is not easy, and wrong info can make the situation worse, it takes time to get a handle on the impact of the incident.
Have to say, the Signallers tend to be a bit of a way down this list for advice..... after the initial notification of a train stopping incident, but then I would not want to be on the Control desk at that time ! lol