🚁 Smart Skies

How Drones Are Redefining Rail Operations

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RailPulse Tech
April 03, 2025

🚀 Hello, Spain is enhancing its rail network by testing modular gauge-changing platforms and converting corridors to standard gauge.

Meanwhile, a report confirms space for new operators like Virgin and Gemini to compete on cross-Channel routes with Eurostar. The ambitious Starline project aims to connect 39 cities across Europe with a high-speed rail network by 2040, promoting sustainability and reducing air travel, though challenges in harmonizing national systems remain.

TOP STORIES

Spain’s Two-Track Approach to Railway Compatibility
Spain is tackling the rail gauge dilemma by investing in both infrastructure upgrades and innovative rolling stock technologies. Adif has launched a EUR 2.3 million pilot project at Irun station to test modular gauge-changing platforms for freight trains, while the Ministry of Transport is accelerating the conversion of key corridors to standard gauge under the Ten-T European freight network. Meanwhile, dual gauge systems and upgraded electrification along the Mediterranean corridor are already enabling new intermodal services, like Hupac’s route to Antwerp, highlighting the potential benefits of standardisation.

New Era of Cross-Channel Travel: Virgin, Evolyn, and Gemini Join the Game 
A new report by the British Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has confirmed there is available capacity at the London Channel Tunnel depot at Temple Mills, paving the way for new train companies like Virgin and Gemini to compete with Eurostar on cross-Channel routes. Virgin, which has been blocked from entering the market due to previous claims of limited space, welcomed the report's findings and plans to announce its entry soon. Other companies, including Evolyn and Eurostar itself, are also exploring new routes and expanding their fleets to enhance connectivity between London and Europe.

Starline’s Blueprint for a Unified High-Speed Rail Network Across 39 Cities
The Starline project, proposed by Copenhagen-based think tank 21st Europe, aims to create a 22,000 km high-speed rail network connecting 39 European stations, including the UK, Ukraine, Turkey, and Portugal, by 2040. Designed to provide seamless cross-border travel with speeds between 186 and 249 mph, Starline intends to boost connectivity, reduce short-haul flights by up to 80%, and support Europe's 2050 net-zero goals. While the network promises affordability, sustainability, and millions of jobs, critics question the feasibility of unifying regulations and achieving coherence across diverse national systems.

Regional Highlights

Europe:

  • 🇭🇷 Croatia has launched a EUR 190 million railway modernisation project covering the 90 km Kloštar - Koprivnica - Varaždin - Čakovec section, co-financed by an EIB loan, aiming to enhance speeds to 120 km/h and reduce travel times, with completion expected by 2028.

  • 🛤️ The International Union of Railways (UIC) has awarded Hit Rail a contract to provide its Real Time Mobility Data Exchange (RTMDE) as a cloud-based SaaS platform, enabling operators, agencies, and startups to offer integrated, real-time passenger information across all European services while meeting EU Passenger Rights Regulation requirements.

  • 🇬🇧 The British Network Rail will invest GBP 11.5 million to upgrade the Far North Line in Scotland between Brora and Helmsdale, and Invergordon and Fearn, with work scheduled from June 8 to June 30, 2025, to improve service reliability.

  • 🇮🇹 The first segment of the Naples-Bari high-speed railway, led by Webuild for RFI, is progressing with track installation on the 15.5 km Naples-Cancello section and nearing completion of the Casalnuovo Tunnel using an innovative hyperbaric technique, with full completion expected by the end of summer 2025.

  • 🇵🇹 Portugal approved the National Railway Plan, which includes high-speed rail studies connecting Lisbon to Madrid, Lisbon to Porto to Vigo, and the Algarve to Huelva.

  • 🇮🇹 Italy's Antitrust Authority has launched a probe into RFI and its parent company FS for allegedly hindering SNCF Voyages Italia’s access to the high-speed rail market through exclusionary practices.

  • 🇩🇪 DB Cargo, in partnership with Bosch subsidiaries Bosch Engineering and ITK Engineering, is developing a fully automated shunting locomotive to enhance efficiency and competitiveness in rail freight, with full deployment expected in Germany by 2028.

  • 🗺️ Adif AV has launched a EUR 131.4 million tender for designing and constructing signalling, telecommunications, and safety installations on the 70 km Talayuela – Plasencia high-speed section, part of the 437 km Madrid – Extremadura – Portuguese Border line, with 48 months of maintenance included and potential co-financing from the European Regional Development Fund.

Aisa:

  • 🇮🇳 Alstom has delivered the 500th Prima T8 e-locomotive to Indian Railways under a EUR 3.5 billion contract to supply 800 high-powered locomotives, built at its Madhepura facility with over 85% local sourcing, reinforcing India's manufacturing capabilities and the 'Make in India' initiative.

  • 🇻🇳 Vietnam and South Korea signed cooperation agreements on railway development at a forum in Hanoi.

  • 🇹🇭 Thailand and China have launched a USD 10 billion, 357-kilometer high-speed railway project set to be operational by 2031, aiming to boost economic growth and regional connectivity under the Belt and Road Initiative.

North America:

  • 🇺🇸 The American Society of Civil Engineers 2025 Report Card gave U.S. public transit a ‘D’ grade, up from ‘D-’ in 2021, but projects a USD 152 billion funding gap by 2033 despite increased funding from the IIJA and IRA.

  • 🇺🇸 Lunatrain, a Philly-area startup founded in 2024, aims to offer affordable overnight rail travel connecting major East Coast and Midwest cities by building on existing rail infrastructure, including Amtrak’s network.

  • 🇨🇦 Canada TransLink completed a CAD 32 million (USD 22.5 million) upgrade to Brentwood Town Centre SkyTrain Station.

  • 🇨🇦 The Government of Canada is investing over CAD 3.8 billion in public transit infrastructure across various cities, including CAD 1.8 billion for Brampton’s LRT extension, CAD 1.5 billion for Metro Vancouver’s TransLink, CAD 1.9 billion for Quebec City’s tramway, and CAD 500,000 for Whistler’s rural transit solutions, aiming to enhance connectivity, reduce emissions, and boost economic growth.

🚁DRONES are in the AIR

The Rising Role of Drones in Railway

Operations Drones are increasingly being used to enhance safety, efficiency, and maintenance in railway systems worldwide. From infrastructure monitoring to trespass management, their capabilities are transforming traditional rail management practices.

Key Benefits:

  • Enhanced Monitoring: Drones provide real-time, high-resolution visuals of tracks and infrastructure, improving the ability to detect damage, obstructions, or wear.

  • Increased Safety: Inspections can be conducted without putting human workers in hazardous situations, particularly around live tracks or hard-to-reach areas.

  • Reduced Costs: Automated inspections and faster incident response help lower operational costs and minimize train downtime.

  • Better Trespass Management: Real-time aerial surveillance helps detect and intercept trespassers, enhancing overall network security. Improved

  • Environmental Resilience: Drones can quickly assess damage after natural disasters, enabling prompt repairs and reducing service disruptions.

Real-World Examples:

  • UK: Network Rail, in partnership with Drone Major Limited, is deploying drones across 20,000 miles of tracks to monitor infrastructure, detect trespassers, and inspect areas prone to issues like fallen trees and landslides. Drones equipped with Digital Tethering technology ensure precise navigation even where GPS signals are unstable.

  • Germany: Deutsche Bahn utilizes drones for bridge inspections and monitoring remote sections of track, reducing the need for costly and time-consuming manual surveys.

  • Japan: JR East employs drones to inspect high-speed rail tracks, ensuring safety and performance standards are maintained without disrupting operations.

  • Australia: Sydney Trains uses drones to inspect tunnels, bridges, and other critical infrastructure, improving safety and efficiency while minimizing the need for track closures.

  • United States: BNSF Railway leverages drones to inspect tracks and monitor potential landslide areas, enhancing disaster preparedness and response.

Why It Matters: 

The use of drones in rail operations is expected to grow rapidly as their capabilities expand. From reducing inspection times to enhancing safety and cutting costs, drones offer a flexible, scalable solution for rail maintenance and monitoring. Their ability to operate beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) opens up further possibilities for efficiency and coverage, making them a crucial tool for modernizing rail systems.

Statistics of the Week

  • Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) has opened the 50-hectare Tuas Rail Test Centre (SRTC), featuring 8.6 km of tracks, including a 2.8-km high-speed test track and a 3-km endurance looped track, designed to enhance rail reliability and support over 85% of local train testing needs without relying on overseas facilities.

  • Only 7% of rail traffic in the EU is cross-border, and the four-year Crosusmob project, funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), aims to increase this percentage by addressing infrastructure challenges and policy differences between countries.

  • The US Norfolk Southern's RailGreen programoffers verified emission reduction certificates to address the remaining 25% of emissions not eliminated by rail’s average 75% reduction compared to other shipping methods.

  • The Indian Eastern Railway achieved a record freight loading of 100.28 million tonnes in 2024-25, marking a 15.4% increase from its previous high of 86.89 million tonnes in 2023-24.

  • Swiss Stadler and Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn have introduced the world's fastest rack-and-pinion railway, increasing downhill speed by nearly 50% to 30 km/h, cutting travel time from 15 to 11 minutes.

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