London Underground - Operations Control Operator

[Mojo]

A new role working in the new Rail Control Centre has just been advertised for external applicants on the TfL website.

Operations Control Operator

Click the link provided to see the complete job description.

tfl.taleo.net

Salary: £59,000 per annum

Contract Type – London Underground

The closing date for applications is 13th October 2024 @ 23:59hrs.



Location: Palestra Office, Southwark, SE1 8NJ.

Shifts



Working as part of a 24/7 operation in our control centre in Palestra, you will be working a shift roster made up of early shifts, late shifts and night shifts on a rotational basis (including public holidays such as Christmas Day). There may be some variations in the shift lengths on the roster.



Overview of role



The Operations Control Operator (OCO) is an exciting role within TfL’s Rail Control Centre (RCC) where immediate and accurate communication of information is crucial for ensuring operational integrity and the safety of personnel. Loading information onto our system in real time allows all team members to have immediate access to critical updates and maintain situational awareness.

The OCO undertakes the transactional activities within the Rail Control Centre, deploying emergency services and incident responders and proactively managing the rail network supporting Trains, Service Control and Stations colleagues. The OCO is responsible for ensuring the collation and dissemination of accurate, timely and integrated real-time network information to enable our customers to plan their journeys.

 

[the_bear]

I often wonder if there’s actually any point in externals applying for roles like this. Surely an organisation the size of TFL already have plenty of internals lined up for it..

 

[TrainBod]

I agree....still worth an application....you never know....but yes, they will be plenty of internals lined up for this role.......

 

[Horizon22]

Very rare for such roles to be external. Not the best paid though for a TfL control role however and is essentially pan-TfL info control liaising with individual lines and stations as required.

I believe this is part of what was considered London Underground Control Centre (LUCC) which is having a minor reorg.

 

[M_B14]

Would you say this role can be a 'Entry Level' vacancy. I don't have experience in Control rooms or Railway industry but I do have years of experience in Customer service roles. I just wanna know If its worth bothering applying.

 

[Mojo]

This role has been taken offline early, one can only guess due to the number of applicants.

 

[lonogrol]

I often wonder if there’s actually any point in externals applying for roles like this. Surely an organisation the size of TFL already have plenty of internals lined up for it..

Would be very surprised if on that salary they can find enough suitable applicants from only inyernals …

 

[Horizon22]

Would be very surprised if on that salary they can find enough suitable applicants from only inyernals …

Indeed, but for external applicants that have control rooms in London / on the outskirts this will be a big salary jump as it would be for people within TfL looking for their first control job.

 

[Class93]

Has anyone got any more information about this job? Have been progressed to the next stage but there is such little information about the job, the role and the department

 

[Mojo]

Has anyone got any more information about this job? Have been progressed to the next stage but there is such little information about the job, the role and the department

What information do you want, other than what's on the job advert? I'm sure there's people willing to help.

 

[Class93]

What information do you want, other than what's on the job advert? I'm sure there's people willing to help.

Really what the job actually is - is it a new role, is it looking after just Elizabeth Line or does it include Overground. Broadly the setup of the services and who you’re interacting with in that job.

 

[Mojo]

Really what the job actually is - is it a new role, is it looking after just Elizabeth Line or does it include Overground. Broadly the setup of the services and who you’re interacting with in that job.

It is a new job title. It does not look after any mode or lines. The employer is London Underground.

This video is quite old and it shows the control room in a previous iteration, but the principles still apply

There is also a more modern video on Facebook

32K views · 229 reactions | Secrets of the London Underground | Control Centre | In this week's #SecretsOfTheLondonUnderground, London Transport Museum's Siddy Holloway goes behind the scenes at the London Underground’s control centre... | By U&Yeste

In this week's #SecretsOfTheLondonUnderground, London Transport Museum's Siddy Holloway goes behind the scenes at the London Underground’s control centre...

www.facebook.com

 

[Somewhere]

Really what the job actually is - is it a new role, is it looking after just Elizabeth Line or does it include Overground. Broadly the setup of the services and who you’re interacting with in that job.

I would have thought, if it's London Underground, it wouldn't include the Elizabeth Line or Overground, as they're not part of the London Underground

 

[Class93]

This is where the advert doesn’t really make any sense. The TFL control room in the second video posted seems a logical top line operational control room but why you’d have Elizabeth Line seperate to it?

The employer isn’t London Overground, it’s quite clear as saying it’s part of the TFL Rail Control Centre - unless that video is the RCC? The job location is Palestra which is even more confusing if it’s not in the EL control room at Romford.

 

[Horizon22]

This is where the advert doesn’t really make any sense. The TFL control room in the second video posted seems a logical top line operational control room but why you’d have Elizabeth Line seperate to it?

The employer isn’t London Overground, it’s quite clear as saying it’s part of the TFL Rail Control Centre - unless that video is the RCC? The job location is Palestra which is even more confusing if it’s not in the EL control room at Romford.

LUCC oversees all the London Underground operations and pan-London coordination.

They don’t run any individual LU service controls (of which there are several around London), nor Overground (although they do have a presence at Palestra) nor Elizabeth line.

They support and coordinate the whole operation and have a strategic overview and provide information updates (e.g. service status changes) to all lines.

 

[Class93]

LUCC oversees all the London Underground operations and pan-London coordination.

They don’t run any individual LU service controls (of which there are several around London), nor Overground (although they do have a presence at Palestra) nor Elizabeth line.

They support and coordinate the whole operation and have a strategic overview and provide information updates (e.g. service status changes) to all lines.

This was in reply to the other posters replies.

 

[Horizon22]

This was in reply to the other posters replies.

You had questions and said you seemed "confused" hence my reply.

 

[Class93]

You had questions and said you seemed "confused" hence my reply.

I still remain confused as the answers given didn’t make sense.

 

[Horizon22]

I still remain confused as the answers given didn’t make sense.

What do you not understand about my post?

 

[loudmouth]

Been invited to an assessment center for this but no idea what to expect. I haven't not been provided with any details and was wondering if anyone has been to an AC for this role?

 

[Class93]

What do you not understand about my post?

It transpires it most certainly is LUCC.

Been invited to an assessment center for this but no idea what to expect. I haven't not been provided with any details and was wondering if anyone has been to an AC for this role?

The information is pretty clear on the invite email after you’ve confirmed a date.

 

[43066]

This role has been taken offline early, one can only guess due to the number of applicants.

Out of interest, what do these roles progress to in terms of pay, and over what period? Ta in advance.

 

[Horizon22]

Out of interest, what do these roles progress to in terms of pay, and over what period? Ta in advance.

In what sense? Pretty sure 59K is the starting and final salary.

 

[43066]

In what sense? Pretty sure 59K is the starting and final salary.

As you pointed out, it’s low for TfL control roles, so presumably there’s some ability to progress internally through to higher pay. What is the typical time frame etc?

 

[Horizon22]

As you pointed out, it’s low for TfL control roles, so presumably there’s some ability to progress internally through to higher pay. What is the typical time frame etc?

It’s not that low, just lower than some other roles. But really how long is a piece of string? You’d have to wait until movement in roles above and considering there’s an ongoing restructure it’s almost impossible to say there’s any “typical” time frame.

 

[Class93]

It’s not that low, just lower than some other roles. But really how long is a piece of string? You’d have to wait until movement in roles above and considering there’s an ongoing restructure it’s almost impossible to say there’s any “typical” time frame.

Any background information to the restructure? And are there any specific rosters or hours that are worked?

 

[Jonathon]

As a complete newbie, what kind of salary would a normal TfL control room be looking at? £59,000 seems good from an external person's view.

 

[Horizon22]

As a complete newbie, what kind of salary would a normal TfL control room be looking at? £59,000 seems good from an external person's view.

What do you mean by a "normal TfL control room"? This is the only "TfL" control room where others are individual London Underground lines or Elizabeth line, DLR or Overground control centres & roles.

 

[Jonathon]

Sorry I missed "position/role" out!

 

[Horizon22]

Sorry I missed "position/role" out!

Ah I see. Well for other positions you'd be looking at adding 5-10K on top, although the more senior members of the team will hit 6-figures.