Thermal Drones to Monitor Tracks in North East This Summer

Thermal Drones will return to patrol the Durham Coast Line and the Bishop Line this summer as part of efforts to prevent trespassing and protect lives during the school holidays. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Northern, Network Rail, and British Transport Police are working together to stop the rise in railway trespassing that typically spikes during school breaks. These incidents pose major safety risks and cause serious service delays.

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During the Easter holidays, staff patrolled the tracks by car and train to quickly handle emerging threats. In high-risk zones, Network Rail used thermal drones to locate intruders hiding near the tracks.

The Thermal Drones detected various offenders, including a rail enthusiast walking along the line and a youth throwing stones at a passing train. One incident involved two teens lying on the Seaton Carew level crossing, who ran after spotting a drone overhead.

Thermal Drones Help Deter Risky Behavior on Railways

Authorities plan to use the same drone surveillance methods over the summer, particularly in regions with repeated violations. The goal is to discourage dangerous behavior before it escalates.

British Transport Police and rail staff will also visit local schools to educate students about railway safety. These programs stress the deadly risks of stepping onto live tracks, especially during unsupervised summer months.

Thermal Drones Join Broader Strategy to Cut Trespassing

According to Network Rail, over 19,000 trespassing incidents were recorded in 2023/24, which means one trespass occurred every 30 minutes. Most of these events involved youths taking extreme risks.

By combining drone monitoring, active patrols, and education, the rail partners hope to reduce incidents and send a clear message: stay off the tracks to stay alive. Using thermal drones is one of the most effective ways to identify and stop offenders quickly.

Source: www.railadvent.co.uk

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