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UNLOCKED network creates delays, with the total performance delay costs associated with trespass and vandalism estimated at £ 55million per year before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The current‘ manual’ processes of monitoring for and resolving trespass and vandalism on UK railways are not only slow, creating significant additional delays on the UK’ s railway lines, but also potentially dangerous for Network Rail staff. One of the biggest safety risks posed to rail workers is the potential for being struck by a train while working trackside, which currently typically happens every 18 to 24 months.
The new system which has been thoroughly trialled will not only vastly improve the efficiency and safety of Britain’ s railways for both passengers and staff, limiting the number of trespassers, but will also set the foundations for a fully operational drone network, which can be used for monitoring and maintaining the entire Network Rail estate. This will deliver additional savings and significantly reduce the £ 1.9billion spent every year on monitoring for infrastructure issues and other external problems, such as animals on the line, collapsed trees and lineside fires.
Dominic Mottram, Programme Manager for National Drone Strategy at Network Rail, stated:“ 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.
“ We operate one of the safest railways in the world, but it is also one of the busiest, so keeping
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