Network Rail Boosts Drone Use in East Midlands, Saving £100,000 and Halving Inspection Times

KEY INFORMATION:

• Network Rail has increased drone usage across its East Midlands route to improve incident response.
• Since September 2025, drone deployments have saved the route an estimated £100,000.
• Drones are used for lineside fires, trespass incidents, animal incursions, and flooding assessments.
• Using drones typically halves inspection times compared to traditional manual methods.
• Three trained drone pilots among mobile operations managers currently support the route.

Network Rail is using East Midlands railway drones to respond to incidents faster and reduce disruption for thousands of daily passengers.

Network Rail has strengthened its operational capabilities across the East Midlands route through the increased deployment of drone technology. These aerial devices have saved the route approximately £100,000 since September 2025. The financial savings stem from improved productivity and the ability to avoid costly line blocks.

Currently, three trained drone pilots operate as mobile operations managers (MOMs) on this specific route. Over the last 90 days, these pilots have recorded more than 500 minutes of flight time. This includes both planned maintenance tasks and emergency response missions.

Improving safety and efficiency with East Midlands railway drones

The use of drones provides a safer working environment for railway staff. Rather than walking miles along the track to locate an issue, teams use aerial surveys to identify incidents quickly. On average, this technology halves inspection times. Each assessment performed by a drone can save the route around £2,000.

Drones serve several critical functions during live incidents. For lineside fires, infrared sensors assess the temperature of overhead equipment. This allows teams to determine if power can be restored safely without manual inspection. In flooding scenarios, such as at Draycott in February, drones provide rapid insight into water levels affecting the tracks.

Managing trespass and disruption

Trespass remains a significant cause of disruption, contributing to over 1.5 million delay minutes across the national network last year. In Mansfield, a drone helped track an individual on the tracks. This allowed teams to intercept the person safely as they exited the railway. In Nottingham, flights confirmed lines were clear of animals without the need to stop train services.

Network Rail recently conducted emergency flight tests in Derby to further enhance pilot skills. These simulations focused on search and find operations to prepare for live incidents.

Dan Matthews, Network Rail operations director, said: “Emergency drone flight tests enhance our operational capability to respond to incidents, helping us to deliver a safe and reliable railway for our passengers and colleagues.”

He added: “With delays from trespass becoming one of the most significant causes of disruption on the railway – over 1.5 million delay minutes across the network last year – drones offer a game-changing speed of response.”

The continued expansion of the drone programme forms part of the wider Railway Upgrade Plan. This initiative aims to modernise infrastructure and respond to the doubling of passenger journeys seen over the last two decades.

OFFICIAL SOURCE VERIFICATION: This report is based on official data from Council / Local Authority. Document: **Drones delivering range of benefits and keeping trains moving Source Link: https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/drones-delivering-range-of-benefits-and-keeping-trains-moving

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