The rail industry has launched a new long-term strategy to modernise visual safety and security technology across Britain’s railway, aiming to improve passenger safety, tackle crime more effectively and reduce disruption through better use of CCTV, artificial intelligence and connected video systems.
Developed jointly by Network Rail, the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), British Transport Police (BTP), train operators and other industry partners, the Visual Safety and Security Systems (VSS) Strategy sets out a roadmap for standardising video technology as the railway moves towards Great British Railways.
The strategy is expected to improve collaboration between organisations while supporting faster incident response and more efficient railway operations.
Creating a connected railway
The strategy covers a wide range of technologies already deployed across the network, including fixed station CCTV, onboard and front-facing train cameras, body-worn video, drones, cloud-based video platforms and AI-powered analytics.
However, the industry acknowledges that many of these systems have been introduced independently over several decades, resulting in incompatible technologies, varying standards and delays in accessing footage during incidents.
To address this, the strategy proposes a common architecture centred on a new Video Connectivity Platform (VCP), which will allow organisations including Network Rail, British Transport Police and train operators to securely access live and recorded video from multiple systems through a shared platform.
Backed by £17 million of Government funding, the VCP is intended to simplify the management of visual safety systems while ensuring future technologies can be integrated more easily.
Improving safety and performance
Alongside supporting criminal investigations, the strategy outlines how modern visual technologies can improve railway performance by detecting infrastructure faults earlier, monitoring passenger flows, managing crowding and enabling faster recovery following disruption.
The industry also sees increasing opportunities to use AI and automated analytics to identify potential hazards before they develop into incidents, while drones could be deployed more rapidly to inspect stations, infrastructure and accident sites.
Financial modelling suggests the strategy could reduce Schedule 8 performance costs by up to £20 million annually, alongside delivering an estimated £16 million each year in safety-related benefits.
Peter Gibbons, Chief Security Officer at Network Rail, said: “We are at our best as a rail industry when we embrace new technology, and ensuring our visual security systems are up to date is no different.
“This strategy marks a significant step forward for security across Britain’s railway. For too long, our visual systems have operated in silos, limiting our ability to respond.
“By using modern technology, such as rapidly deploying a drone to assess a station, or through using AI-enhanced CCTV to detect potential risks at a platform’s edge, we can minimise disruptions to services and keep people safe.
“Through bringing the industry together around common standards and a shared architecture, we can move from a reactive approach to one that is truly intelligence-led. This is about making the railway safer for passengers and colleagues alike, and I’m proud that Network Rail is helping to lead that change.”
Supporting Great British Railways
The strategy has been developed to support the industry’s transition towards Great British Railways, providing a consistent approach to visual safety technology across infrastructure managers and train operators.
Jacqueline Starr, Executive Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Rail Delivery Group, said: “From CCTV and body-worn video to drone footage and emerging technologies, these systems play a vital role in helping keep passengers and colleagues safe, supporting police investigations and improving the day-to-day operation of the railway.
“We’re proud to have helped bring the industry together behind a shared vision that will improve coverage, connectivity and capability across the network, supporting both the Safer Railways Scheme and providing a clear roadmap for unlocking the full potential of these technologies over the coming decade.
“Everyone has the right to work and travel without fear, we’re committed to delivering on our wider ambition of a safer railway for everyone.”
British Transport Police Assistant Chief Constable Charlie Doyle said the improvements would also strengthen policing capability across the network.
He said: “High quality CCTV is a valuable tactic which allows us to quickly and effectively identify suspects and bring them to justice – making the network safer for the travelling public.
“We’ve worked closely with Network Rail and the Department for Transport on this project to ensure that our officers will have access to higher-quality CCTV, which they’ll be able to access faster and more efficiently, and solve crimes with the strongest possible evidence.”
As investment in digital technologies accelerates across Britain’s railway, the VSS Strategy provides a framework for ensuring future upgrades are delivered to common standards, helping create a more connected, secure and operationally resilient railway while supporting the ambitions of Great British Railways.
