New Drone Technology Trial Aims to Speed Up Railway Incident Response Across Anglia

GBR Anglia is preparing to trial advanced drone technology designed to improve incident response times and support infrastructure monitoring across the railway network in the East of England.

The initiative will see beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drones deployed from Romford from late summer 2026, following approval from the Civil Aviation Authority.

The trial forms part of ongoing collaboration between Network Rail, Greater Anglia and c2c under the integrated GBR Anglia structure, which aims to improve coordination between rail infrastructure and train operations.

Developed over the past 16 months, the drones will be operated by specialist provider heliguy™ on behalf of Network Rail. The technology will allow teams based at Romford Rail Operating Centre to access live aerial footage from locations up to 400 metres away, enabling faster assessments of incidents and reducing the need for staff to enter potentially hazardous environments.

The drones are equipped with high-resolution thermal imaging cameras capable of detecting issues affecting track, drainage systems, structures and lineside assets. By identifying signs of wear or damage at an earlier stage, Network Rail hopes to prevent faults from developing into more significant operational problems.

Future plans could see the technology expanded across strategic locations throughout the Anglia route, with operational flight ranges extending up to four kilometres.

A similar trial is also being launched on Network Rail's Western route in Gloucester. The two projects will provide valuable insight into how BVLOS drone technology can be used to support railway operations, improve safety and enhance the efficiency of inspections and incident management.

Network Rail says the technology could play an important role in tackling some of the most common causes of disruption, including trespass, vandalism and cable theft.

Richard Barke, route crime and security manager for Network Rail's Anglia route, said the trial would help teams better understand how aerial surveillance technology can strengthen operational response and improve coordination between security, operations and maintenance teams.

He added that the ultimate goal is to minimise disruption for both passenger and freight services by enabling quicker decisions and faster responses when incidents occur.

The trial reflects a growing use of drone technology across the transport sector, where real-time aerial intelligence is increasingly being used to improve safety, asset management and network performance.