Keeping track of station security

Keeping an eye on passenger safety, security and communications across 21 of Scotland’s railway stations was the challenge for ScotRail CCTV Project Manager Jim Anderson. Employing centrally monitored CCTV links to protect passengers and station property as well as providing audio communications required a cohesive network and a significant upgrade in bandwidth. ScotRail decided to work with Telewest Business to make it happen.

ScotRail, part of FirstGroup Limited since October 2004, is one of the largest rail franchises in the UK with more than 3,000 kilometres of track, 650,000 train journeys a year, 336 stations and 3,000 staff. Telewest Business has worked with ScotRail since 1997, when it first installed Private Circuits to stations to enable CCTV.

When ScotRail needed additional bandwidth to link up 21 of their railway sites to its CCTV system they chose to continue to work with Telewest Business. “Aside from having the infrastructure in place, Telewest Business was more cost effective than the competition,” explains Jim. “I also knew I could rely on Telewest for consistency. Other telecoms suppliers have not been able to provide us with the same level of reliability.”

Creating a common network and upgrading bandwidth across train stations in the Lothians and Forth Valley required precision, co-ordination and timing. To ensure that the whole project ran like clockwork, Telewest Business allocated a dedicated Project Manager to co-ordinate telecoms installation arrangements at the 21 stations involved, as well as with the supplier of the CCTV equipment, A.D.T. Fire & Security Ltd. Railways need to adhere to stringent Health and Safety policies therefore ScotRail itself decided to install ducting up to the railway boundary. Telewest Business was able to utilise existing connections near to the sites and connect them to the private network. “This has been a relatively uncomplicated project to work on as all parties involved ensured that it ran without a hitch,” says Jim.

With Private Circuits, bandwidth is easy to adjust and can carry high volumes of video and audio traffic quickly and effectively. The increased bandwidth means that events at the stations can be monitored virtually in real time. But for First ScotRail, CCTV and audio may just be the tip of the iceberg.

“We hope to exploit bandwidth further for additional station services, such as ticket issue machines, remote control of lighting and door access, etc.”

With the company providing 95% of passenger train services in Scotland, customer information and safety is top priority. The CCTV cameras cover platforms, footbridges, car parks and other areas around the stations. An interactive CCTV audio Help Point and P.A. speakers are located on each platform. Many of the cameras have the ability to zoom in on incidents and each one records onto a hard drive, providing evidence admissible in court and available for recovery by British Transport Police. All cameras are monitored around the clock from the Group's central monitoring station. For Scottish railway stations, CCTV and audio systems have proven their worth in terms of security and customer care for passengers, and in deterring vandals. "Passengers definitely feel reassured by the presence of CCTV cameras. Women on their own on a platform late at night have called us via Help Points to ask to be monitored until their train arrives. Since the cameras have been installed vandalism has also been vastly reduced. We can now send messages out on the Public Address system to prevent incidents from taking place,” explains Jim.

The new First ScotRail franchise is offering more enhanced facilities and security to its passengers. The Group has unveiled a £40 million improvement programme, £5.4 million of which will be spent on the installation of Customer Information Systems, CCTV, Help Points and Public Address Systems. As the new working plan comes to light, First ScotRail aims to keep working with Telewest Business, and to continue to improve passenger safety, security and information for thousands of rail travellers throughout Scotland.