Network Rail, LNER, CrossTech and Hitachi Rail are collaborating to trial the latest vegetation and infrastructure digital monitoring technology on the East Coast Main Line.
A 12-month Network Rail pilot project will examine the benefits of automated technology to detect potential hazards on the railway such as overhanging trees and leaves which risk disruption.
The new forward-facing CCTV camera (FFCCTV) has been installed inside the driver’s cab of a LNER Azuma train for the trial, which commenced in May. The FFCCTV solution utilises the latest artificial intelligence (AI) camera sensor technology.
Automated detection of hazards would enable a proactive approach to infrastructure maintenance and provide guidance and insights to optimise when and where work is performed on the East Coast Main Line.
The FFCCTV digital monitoring solution can detect:
- Leaves on track
- Overhanging trees
- Invasive and hazardous tree species
- Low ballast signal and level crossing and signal sightings
- Embankment and track condition, including subsidence
Johanna Priestley, Route Engineer at Network Rail, said: “Vegetation is the only living asset on the railway network and as such understanding the potential risk to trains is ever changing. Using forward facing footage allows us to ‘see’ from the driver’s perspective.
“We can use this technology to understand where vegetation is encroaching on the operational railway and at risk of making contact with either trains or fixed infrastructure such as overhead electrified wires.”
Monitoring areas in real time would help to advance safety and reduce vegetation-related incidents, which cost up to £3 million annually in the Southern region alone.
FFCCTV is the latest development in a large repertoire of Hitachi digital asset monitoring solutions which can live-monitor tracks, overhead lines and the train itself. Such digital solutions allow for more accurate monitoring of the railways.
Image credit: LNER; video credit: Hitachi Rail
