Media centre

Monday 19 Oct 2026

Drone technology takes flight to strengthen East Coast’s response to severe weather on the railway

Region & Route:

Eastern

| Eastern: East Coast

Network Rail is exploring how drones could help teams respond more quickly and safely to flooding, storms and other weather-related incidents on the East Coast Main Line.

Drone flight exercises near Doncaster are demonstrating how aerial imagery can give engineers an early view of railway infrastructure and help identify areas in need of closer inspection. The exercises form part of Network Rail East Coast’s evaluation of the technology and its potential uses.

Extreme weather can present a serious challenge for the railway. Summer 2026 was the UK’s hottest on record.* Meanwhile, the winter half-year (October to March) for the most recent decade, 2016–2025, has been 3% wetter than 1991–2020, and 13% wetter than 1961–1990.**

During extreme weather, some parts of the railway can be difficult or potentially hazardous to reach, which can cause delays and cancellations. Drones can allow teams to gather initial information remotely, helping them understand conditions on the ground and decide where engineers need to inspect more closely.

The technology can provide aerial views following storms and high winds, monitor water levels during flooding and inform decisions about whether train services can operate. By helping teams understand the condition of the railway sooner, drones have the potential to support a faster and safer response to disruption, helping to keep passengers on the move.

Network Rail is already using the technology in other parts of the country, with positive results. Across a wider range of incidents, including flooding, trespass and lineside fires, the East Midlands route reported savings of approximately £100,000 between September 2025 and March 2026.

John Grainger, joint head of performance, Network Rail East Coast & LNER, said:

“Severe weather can make parts of the railway difficult to reach at times when we most need accurate information to help our teams make the best decisions for our customers and colleagues. Drones have the potential to give a much quicker view of what is happening, whether that means checking for damage following high winds or monitoring water levels during flooding.

“Drone tests have shown that they can support and complement our expert engineers and more traditional inspection methods, providing an extra pair of eyes during challenging times.

“We want to deliver the best service that we can for our customers as they travel by train. Embracing technology like this helps us keep everyone safe and allows us to get trains moving as quickly as possible after disruption.”

Drones form part of a wider approach to monitoring railway infrastructure. On East Coast, this already includes the Pantograph Damage Assessment System – known as PANDAS – and Automated Intelligent Video Review technology, which assess overhead line equipment and track using equipment fitted to LNER trains.

Click here for more information on how drones help support railway operations.