The threat to trains from drones?

[theageofthetra]

These drones are increasingly being used to drop drugs & phones into prisons. Its only a matter of time before some sort of control of sale happens. I experienced an idiot flying one of these over the line at cab height at Blackheath a few months back. I reported it via the GSMR but heard no more on the incident.

 

[Murph]

These drones are increasingly being used to drop drugs & phones into prisons. Its only a matter of time before some sort of control of sale happens. I experienced an idiot flying one of these over the line at cab height at Blackheath a few months back. I reported it via the GSMR but heard no more on the incident.

Control of sale has 2 fundamental problems. Firstly, it would be unenforceable, since you can easily build a drone from innocuous components which cannot be restricted. Secondly, it would not help the problems in the slightest, as the problem cases are situations where you already have someone who is already either quite prepared to break the law or so stupid that they would carry on despite any new laws.

 

[NotATrainspott]

If anything I think that drones present more of a benefit to the railway than they present a threat.

Network Rail has now got special helicopters which they use to perform surveys of their infrastructure, but these are expensive and can't go particularly close to anything they're actually surveying. Using drones would allow them to perform aerial surveys of infrastructure significantly more frequently at vastly reduced expense. The drones could be small and light enough for it to be safe for them to survey the underside of bridges or give close-ups of the state of the lineside.

They could have drones situated up and down the rail network at strategic locations which would be charged and ready to take off at any time. Let's say there's reports of a trespasser on the line: the drone could fly there quickly and find out where the trespasser is and this information could be passed back to the signaller and the police so as to minimise disruption. Depending on the quality of the cameras it may even be possible to identify faults with the infrastructure. Given that drones aren't human and could be designed for it to be not unsafe for a train to hit them, they may even be able to do close surveys in between trains on an active running line.

 

[DarloRich]

Network Rail has now got special helicopters which they use to perform surveys of their infrastructure, but these are expensive and can't go particularly close to anything they're actually surveying.

You haven't seen the capability on them then! They don't need to get particularly close! Sadly my suggestion to fit an M230 chain gun to each one was rejected

 

[Llanigraham]

NR are using drones, but they are operated by properly trained and licensed operators under CAA legislation.

Remote operation as you suggest would be very difficult and currently illegal under the CAA rules

 

[Howardh]

The problem is they do have a very useful purpose, not just for stunning photography but also, as alluded to above, surveying. But that's when in the hands of professionals.

When they are all let loose on Xmas Day be prepared.... at least there won't be many trains running, but there are plenty of power cables, telephone lines, busy motorways, and that's just to be going on with

 

[apk55]

I would expect train windscreens to be designed to withstand bird-strikes. There are some quite big birds in this country such as Canada geese weighing several kilograms, so would have a similar impact profile to all but the biggest drones.

 

[A-driver]

I would expect train windscreens to be designed to withstand bird-strikes. There are some quite big birds in this country such as Canada geese weighing several kilograms, so would have a similar impact profile to all but the biggest drones.

Bird strikes can damage a windscreen. I have known a pheasant to badly damage the outside layer on a 365.

 

[D1009]

NR are using drones, but they are operated by properly trained and licensed operators under CAA legislation.

Remote operation as you suggest would be very difficult and currently illegal under the CAA rules

I remember watching the footage they took of the Dawlish sea wall repairs.

 

[DasLunatic]

OHLE wouldn't be a problem on Christmas Day - aren't these and the third rails switched off at the end of service Christmas Eve?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

OHLE wouldn't be a problem on Christmas Day - aren't these and the third rails switched off at the end of service Christmas Eve?

No, they usually leave everything live except where there are engineering works taking place.

 

[A-driver]

OHLE wouldn't be a problem on Christmas Day - aren't these and the third rails switched off at the end of service Christmas Eve?

No. Not unless there is an isolation taken for engineering works.

 

[Karl]

'Delete'

Oops, sorry wrong thread.

 

[Sprinter153]

When I had to learn a small diversionary route (freight only) recently the video material was filmed by drone, which I thought quite odd!