A pioneering programme that has turned passenger trains into mobile inspection platforms is to be expanded to more routes and trains across South-East London, Kent and parts of East Sussex.
The South Eastern Railway, which brings together the passenger operator Southeastern and the infrastructure provider Network Rail Kent Route, are working together to find new ways of improving performance across the network.
Earlier this year, a pilot programme installed thermal imaging cameras on the front of a small number of Class 707 ‘City Beam’ trains. They successfully spotted 41 overheating incidents and prevented over 9,000 minutes of delays for customers.
The technology is provided by AIVR tech company One Big Circle and is now being expanded to include 20 Class 375 ‘Electrostar’ Main Line trains alongside the 12 Class 707 ‘City Beam’ trains already fitted. Other UK train operators have used similar technology but South Eastern Railway is the first to permanently install on-board cameras on this scale.
This means Metro services, principally serving South-East London as well as longer distance Main Line services will now be covered, allowing even more of the network to be monitored and helping to spot more issues before they can cause delays.
The train-borne AI-monitoring cameras are an advance in railway maintenance technology that is safer, more efficient and helps to reduce delays.
The thermal imaging cameras can identify ‘hot spots’ on the rail network and relay this information rapidly to asset engineers. They can then review the data and make an informed decision as to whether the issue needs repairs, which helps to resolve issues before they can cause disruption to customer journeys.
The technology can also assess the condition of the railway to determine what equipment is required for repairs and the staff needed to carry out the work, without the need for physical visits to the location. This is more efficient and safer.
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Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy said:
“This Government is fundamentally reforming how our railways are run, creating a network that works better for the people and freight using it.
"The cutting-edge technology South Eastern Railway is installing on its trains is key to achieving this and should serve as an example of the kind of smart investments we’re making as publicly owned rail companies work to improve services."
"These upgrades will prevent disruption and reduce delays, supporting local jobs, growth, and housing as part of the Government’s plan deliver an efficient and reliable railway."
Dan Paris, South Eastern Railway’s Fleet Maintenance Director, said:
“Our integrated railway is using train-borne cameras to provide the early warnings we need to identify and fix problems before they cause disruption for our customers.
“The cameras on the City Beams are monitoring our London Metro routes and now with a new set of cameras being added to 20 of our Class 375 trains we can look out for any issues on a much wider area across East Sussex and Kent. I’m confident that they will really help us in our drive to improve performance and reduce delays.”
Emily Kent, Director of One Big Circle, said:
"It's been fantastic to work with South Eastern Railway to deliver this cutting-edge technology onboard the fleet. The can-do spirit and collaboration of all involved has ensured faster, more effective outcomes that will bring real benefits to passengers and staff across the network."
Five of the 20 Class 375 trains in the programme will also be fitted with cameras underneath the body of the train. These cameras will monitor how slippery the track is as well as the condition of the ‘shoe’ and the conductor rail, which transfer the electricity to power the train. Assessments from these cameras will support further performance improvements, particularly during periods of difficult weather.
ENDS
