Network Rail has been given approval by the Civil Aviation Authority to operate drones on Britain’s railways beyond the line of sight.

This means that on Western and Anglia routes, drones can be used to improve its response to incidents and security risks.

The drones will be operated remotely at sites in Gloucester and Romford and these will be operated remotely by Heliguy pilots from the Command Centre in Newcastle.

The system will use the drone-in-a-box technology and will feature high-res and thermal imaging to provide data for operational decision-making.

It is expected that the drones can be deployed elsewhere in the future, with Romford and Gloucester acting as a trial.

“Carrying out BVLOS operations in and around live rail infrastructure, particularly in complex and populated environments, is not something that happens quickly. This has been a sustained effort involving problem solving and close collaboration, and it shows what can be achieved when operational and regulatory expertise are brought together with a shared goal.”

Ken Durling, asset engineer (track renewals) for Network Rail’s Anglia route