Editing Signalling control (section)

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Short description|Railway safeworking operations}}
{{Redirect|Switch tower|the 1913 silent film|The Switch Tower}}
[[Image:LeicesterAndSwannington02A.jpg|right|thumb|[[British Rail Class 66|Class 66]] at [[Bardon Hill]] signal box in [[Leicestershire]], England. It is a [[Midland Railway]] signal box dating from 1899, although the original mechanical [[lever frame]] has been replaced by electrical switches. Seen here in 2009.]]

On a [[rail transport]] system, '''signalling control''' is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of [[railway signal]]s and [[Signalling block system|block systems]] to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper [[Public transport timetable|timetable]]. Signalling control was originally exercised via a decentralised network of control points that were known by a variety of names including '''signal box''' (International and British), '''interlocking tower''' (North America) and '''signal cabin''' (some railways e.g., [[Great Central Railway|GCR]]). Currently these decentralised systems are being consolidated into wide scale '''signalling centres''' or '''dispatch offices'''. Whatever the form, signalling control provides an interface between the [[Signalman (rail)|human signal operator]] and the [[Railway signalling|lineside signalling equipment]]. The technical apparatus used to control [[Railroad switch|switches]] (points), signals and block systems is called [[interlocking]].