UK: South Eastern Railway is to trial the use of flood warning cameras at high-risk locations to help keep trains running safely and reliably during severe weather.
The integrated rail business will deploy solar-powered cameras supplied by Vision Link to provide early warning alerts in the event of rising water levels and to support live visual monitoring of track and drainage conditions before, during and after adverse weather events. This will enable track and drainage teams to make faster and more informed decisions.
The cameras are expected to be installed this autumn, following demonstrations and site assessments. Trial locations at Wadhurst, Hildenborough, Lower Sydenham, Sevenoaks and Selling Tunnel have been selected based on historic flooding incidents and their impact on train performance. Cameras have aready been installed at Stonegate.
Each site will be equipped with a dual-camera system accessible via web browser or mobile app.
The trial will inform future decisions about a wider rollout and additional flood monitoring features, such as catchpit sensors and flood level trackers. Another six flood warning cameras are expected to be added in the near future.
‘This technology gives us real-time insight into what’s happening on the ground, allowing us to prioritise our response and keep trains moving safely’, explained Will Shepherd, SER’s Senior Network Delivery Manager, on January 14. ‘It is a smart, scalable solution that supports our wider strategy for climate resilience and operational efficiency.’
