Network Rail has partnered with Drone Major Limited to introduce a drone-based monitoring system designed to detect trespassers on railway tracks, aiming to improve safety, reduce delays, and cut costs.
The system, known as the ‘drone assured navigation and safety system,’ will be deployed across the UK rail network’s 20,000 miles of track and infrastructure. It has already been trialled on the Wolverhampton and Severn Valley Railway lines.
According to Drone Major the drones will improve railway monitoring efficiency while potentially saving millions of pounds annually.
The unmanned aerial system operates within a designated ‘safety corridor,’ similar to air traffic control for planes, ensuring safe navigation and minimising risks to people on the ground.
Equipped with real-time surveillance capabilities, the drones transmit visual data to operators, aiding in the detection of trespassers and other hazards.
The system integrates artificial perception technology and ground-based beacons to navigate autonomously, even in areas where GPS signals are weak or unavailable, it claims.
Trespassing remains a persistent issue on Britain’s railways, with more than 18,500 incidents recorded last year—nearly one per mile of track. These incidents, along with vandalism, previously cost the rail network around £55 million annually before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Current monitoring methods rely on manual inspections, which are time-consuming and pose risks to staff. Network Rail reports that one of its employees is struck by a train approximately every 18 to 24 months while carrying out track inspections.
Beyond security, the autonomous drones will also assist in monitoring infrastructure issues and external threats such as fallen trees, animals on tracks, and lineside fires.
“The potential for these projects to deliver a more reliable, safer railway for our passengers and colleagues is huge and could even be a game-changer,” said Dominic Mottram, programme manager for national drone strategy at Network Rail.
“We operate one of the safest railways in the world, but it is also one of the busiest. Keeping trains running reliably while monitoring tracks and dealing with incidents can be challenging, and delays can spread quickly. Information provided by drones will allow our colleagues to focus their expertise where it is needed without exposure to the risks of the ‘live railway,’” Mottram added.
