{"id":168416,"date":"2025-04-02T14:55:53","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T14:55:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/aerospace\/uk-railways-to-be-monitored-by-drones\/"},"modified":"2025-04-02T14:55:53","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T14:55:53","slug":"uk-railways-to-be-monitored-by-drones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=168416","title":{"rendered":"UK railways to be monitored by drones"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The UK\u2019s rail infrastructure manager Network Rail has started flying drones to monitor 20,000 miles of tracks.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With its partner Drone Major Limited Network Rail trialled the technology on the Wolverhampton and Severn Valley Railway lines, and will now begin a wider roll-out.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A key use of the drones and real-time picture capability they provide is \u201cthe capability to dramatically transform trespass management on UK railways,\u201d according to Network Rail.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cExisting response processes will be enhanced by drones operated beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS), helping Network Rail to significantly speed up the verification and interception of trespassers, thereby reducing train down-time and also potentially saving lives,\u201d it explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Flying drones above railways has recently been approved by the Civil Aviation Authority, and Drones Major uses \u201cDigital Tethering\u201d to ensure the aircraft only fly in approved areas and do not drift into catenary cables, for example.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Digital Tethering system uses a \u201cworld-leading navigation solution including artificial perception and highly accurate ground-based beacons,\u201d according to the two partners. This technology works even in areas where GPS\/GNSS signals are unstable or even non-existent.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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The technology has been successfully trialled on two rail lines. Credit: Network Rail <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dominic Mottram, programme manager for national drone strategy at Network Rail said: \u201cThe 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.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

When active across the national network, Network Rail hopes to \u201csignificantly reduce\u201d the \u00a31.9bn ($2.45bn) spent annually to fix external infrastructure issues, including trespassers, animals on the line, collapsed trees, and lineside fires.<\/p>\n

\u201cInformation provided by drones will mean our colleagues\u2019 expertise in maintaining the railway can be focused where it is needed, without exposing them to the risk of the \u2018live railway\u2019, and instances of trespass can be tackled much more quickly,\u201d Mottram added.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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