Media centre

Friday 10 Jul 2026

Network Rail and BTP showcase drone capability for Rail Safety Week

Region & Route:

Eastern

| Eastern: East Midlands

Network Rail teamed up with British Transport Police (BTP) to showcase drone technology during Rail Safety Week, highlighting how innovation is helping keep the railway safe.

As part of the industry-led week focusing on rail safety for all, BTP demonstrated its remotely operated drone in Leicester.

Operated from a specialist control room in London, the drone can be deployed instantly and cover a wide area without the need for officers to attend in person – significantly improving response times to trespass and disruption incidents on the railway, reducing risk and minimising disruption.

Mark Budden, Network Rail’s East Midlands route director, said:

“This is a really significant step forward in how we respond to incidents on the railway. Drones are already helping us reduce risk to colleagues and get trains moving again more quickly, but the ability to launch a drone at Knighton Junction and have it operated remotely by specialist pilots in London gives us a whole new level of speed and reach.”

Simon Bachelor, BTP’s head of drone programme, said:

“Rail Safety Week is an opportunity to highlight the work we are doing to keep the public safe on the railway, and our drone capability is a vital part of that.

“Being able to deploy drones remotely gives us immediate visibility of incidents as they unfold, allowing us to respond faster, make informed decisions and deploy officers more effectively. Ultimately, these remote drones will help save lives and minimise disruption.”

The initiative forms part of Project Falcon, a joint BTP and Network Rail programme aimed at reducing trespass, improving safety and keeping trains moving. The purpose-built drone compound at Knighton Junction, funded by Network Rail, enables instant deployment when incidents occur.

Once airborne, the drone streams live footage directly to control rooms, using a combination of wide-angle, zoom and thermal imaging cameras. It also features a laser rangefinder, allowing precise location data to be shared rapidly with officers on the ground.

Trespass remains one of the leading causes of disruption on the railway. In the past year alone, the Knighton Junction area has seen dozens of incidents including trespass, vandalism and concern for welfare cases, often resulting in delays while teams ensure the line is safe to reopen.

Network Rail has already used drone technology across the East Midlands route to improve safety and efficiency, saving more than £100,000 since September 2025 and significantly reducing inspection times. The introduction of remotely operated drone technology further strengthens this approach by removing the need for personnel to be on site before deployment.

East Midlands Railway managing director, Will Rogers, said:

“Partnership working like this plays an important role in improving the experience we provide for our customers. By using innovative technology to respond more quickly to incidents, we can help reduce delays, improve reliability and give customers greater confidence in travelling by rail.“