The UK’s Network Rail has deployed drones to monitor and protect the railway, supporting infrastructure monitoring and strengthening the response to incidents and safety risks.
Working in partnership with drone supplier heliguy, Network Rail has secured approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority to operate drones beyond the operator’s line of sight (BVLOS).
The authorisation allows Network Rail’s Western and Anglia routes to deploy remotely operated drones at sites in Gloucester and Romford in the UK, supporting infrastructure monitoring, improving situational awareness, and strengthening the response to incidents and security risks.
The drones will be operated by heliguy pilots from the company’s Remote Operations Command Centre in Newcastle, allowing activity to be managed without the need for personnel on site.
The deployment follows approximately 16 months of joint work to demonstrate that drone operations can be conducted safely in complex railway environments, including busy and densely populated areas. Ken Durling, asset engineer (track renewals), Network Rail’s Anglia route, commented: “Carrying out BVLOS operations in and around live rail infrastructure, particularly in complex and populated environments, is not something that happens quickly. This has been a sustained effort involving problem solving and close collaboration, and it shows what can be achieved when operational and regulatory expertise are brought together with a shared goal.”
The drone deployment is expected to enhance how Network Rail monitors and manages its infrastructure by providing live aerial imagery and data, helping teams to respond more quickly to incidents, improve the management of disruption, and support efforts to deter trespass and criminal activity. The system will enable routine, repeatable flights during the working week without requiring on-site pilots, equipped with high-resolution and thermal imaging camera to provide detailed data to support inspections and operation decision making.
The rollout is initially focussed on trial activity and is expected to inform wider rollouts across the rail network. The project provides a working example of how drone operations can be integrated safely into critical national infrastructure.
Liam Barrington, operations drone project manager for the Western route, commented: "This approval is a game changer for Network Rail. Having our SORA application for an Atypical Air Environment (AAE) accepted means a huge step forward for our business. It will transform how our operational and route crime teams work, giving us greater control and insight across our entire network and removing the need for a boots-on-ballast approach. It has been truly inspiring to see such deep collaboration, as both teams overcame significant challenges together, and it’s amazing to see two routes come together to achieve this goal."