In the old days, hopping onto the platform from a not-yet-stopped train was a commonplace stunt for daily commuters in a hurry. It was a thrilling, but dangerous part of railway travel. Today, rail travel is generally much safer, but thrill and fame seekers are finding new, creative ways to use the railway to court notoriety online.
Earlier this year, a young man filmed himself1 lying on the tracks and allowing a train to pass over him. In another instance, two people were seen misusing a level crossing to get an ‘Instagram worthy’ picture. Meanwhile, the media has recently reported stories from Austria to Australia of people (and, in some cases, children) being seriously hurt or killed while attempting to train surf.
For rail companies, such incidents cause great distress and often bring unjust headlines that question the level of safety and security of the railway. Then, of course, there is the impact on the timetable when incidents cause significant delays. The ramifications of just one incident can be significant, as illustrated by a case in February 2025 when a track trespasser caused 16 trains to be cancelled and a further 54 to be partially cancelled at the cost of approximately 600 000 euros.
Despite the negative stories, safety and security have always been a top priority for railways and supporting agencies. The British Transport Police, for example, traces its origin back to 1830 when the force was established following the death of a member of parliament, who was struck by a passing train after alighting onto the track of the newly opened Liverpool and Manchester Railway.
Modern surveillance
Today, trains, platforms, yards, level crossings and sections of track are monitored by some of the very latest technology hardware and software, from high-definition cameras with built-in advanced video analytics capabilities to PSIM (physical security information management) systems that can be used to orchestrate a response to anything from a trespasser on the line to a major derailment.
Even with all these systems, the sheer scale of rail networks means it is simply not possible to have eyes everywhere at all times. What is more, while the technology continues to make huge leaps forward, affordability and usability can limit its effectiveness. This has been especially true of video analytics and object detection, where distinguishing between a human trespasser and an animal can be challenging, especially in low-light conditions (a particular issue with passenger and freight trains running around the clock).
With trains moving at high speeds, early detection is everything. If a driver spots someone or something on the line and immediately applies the emergency brake, it could take the train as much as one mile to come to a stop.
LiDAR to the rescue
So, what can be done to improve response times for drivers and other stakeholders? One recommendation is to focus on key sections of the rail network that provide easier access for trespassers, such as stations, platforms, tunnels, bridges and level crossings, where more than a quarter of all significant accidents2 occur on EU railways. This is already standard operating procedure for most rail companies. However, a growing number are going beyond the ‘standard’ safety and security measures, with the introduction of high-tech solutions such as 3D LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors.
This technology is already familiar to the rail industry. It has been used for some time in applications ranging from surveying environments in preparation for building high-speed rail networks to mapping railway tracks and surrounding infrastructure for ongoing maintenance works.
In the context of safety and security on the railway, LiDAR enables the creation and management of virtual perimeters and/or safe zones with pinpoint accuracy. A good example is at level crossings, where a high volume of vehicle and pedestrian traffic crosses the track when the barrier is raised, but it must be clear for rolling stock to pass safely.
LiDAR sensors can be programmed to automatically switch on minutes before a train is scheduled to pass through the crossing and switched off after it has cleared the area. During this time, any movement detected within this ‘live zone’ would create an alert in the control room. The addition of cameras would provide a real-time feed of the situation, enabling the control room operator to take immediate action. This could involve sending a message via a public address system to clear the area, alerting the approaching train driver to take appropriate action, and notifying emergency services and maintenance teams if there is a vehicle, animal, or other blockage on the track.
The investment many rail operators have made in PSIM and CAD (computer-aided dispatch) can add a further layer of protection. These systems provide the operator not only with guidance regarding the next best action, but also automatically triggered responses to orchestrate the entire incident management process.
Protecting critical infrastructure
Level crossings are a good example of environments where it is not viable to have round-the-clock live surveillance, but monitoring is essential at key times. It is a similar case for stations late at night, bridges and depots, all of which are susceptible to acts of trespass, vandalism (particularly graffiti) and theft. All of these pieces of rail infrastructure and the collective network stand to benefit from the use of LiDAR, as incidents are prevented or their impact mitigated in terms of the effect on the timetable, negative publicity, fines and the costs of investigations.
However, while passengers may no longer be swinging open train doors and jumping from moving carriages just to get to work a few seconds earlier, the risks on the railways have evolved. With more rolling stock travelling at higher speeds on old and new lines, there is a need to revisit traditional methods of safeguarding areas on the network, to deter, detect, and protect against those seeking fame, infamy, or gain.
For more information contact Hexagon, Barry Kasselman, [email protected], https://hxgnsecurity.com/
[1] https://tinyurl.com/57uzmzrj
[2] https://tinyurl.com/3cmwk3vy
Hexagon launches AI-enhanced, cloud-based video management system
Geospatial division today launched HxGN dC3 Video | Cloud, a new AI-enhanced, cloud-based video management system that enables more agile and resilient surveillance operations.
With the increasing availability of reliable, high-bandwidth connections, organisations are adopting a cloud-first strategy and turning to video surveillance as a service (VSaaS) for physical security, particularly in distributed installations with multiple sites. The new cloud offering broadens the HxGN dC3 portfolio, Hexagon’s ecosystem of physical security solutions, to provide organisations multiple deployment options and added benefits, such as increased scalability, real-time updates and reduced operating costs.
HxGN dC3 Video | Cloud allows users to view, manage and control video feeds from anywhere. The platform also supports a broad spectrum of IP cameras from multiple vendors, avoiding dependence on any specific hardware.
Video analytics leveraging generative AI significantly speeds up investigations by delivering insights through features like object tracking and behaviour analysis. Generative AI also simplifies tasks such as monitoring, searching and identifying actionable insights with seamless, natural-language interaction with the application.
With end-to-end encryption, granular access controls and compliance with global regulations, HxGN dC3 Video | Cloud supports robust security operations in health care, finance, retail, campus, public safety and other enterprise organisations.
“HxGN dC3 Video | Cloud represents a significant leap forward in video surveillance technology,” said Mladen Stojic, president of security for Hexagon’s Safety, Infrastructure & Geospatial division. “By combining the scalability and flexibility of the cloud with advanced AI-driven analytics, we are empowering organisations to enhance their security operations with unprecedented efficiency, agility and insight.”
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