Railway Security Guide: Prevent Trespass, Theft, and Anti-Social Behaviour

The nation’s railways are under increasing pressure. Major infrastructure projects like the £130 billion loop concept and HS2 are expanding the existing infrastructure. This expansion will significantly increase the amount of active works that require security protection.

Organisations like Network Rail, the British Transport Police (BTP), and rail contractors who carry out essential works on the railway, are all tasked with identifying a security solution equipped to deal with the three risks that affect them most. These are intrusion/trespass, theft, and anti-social behaviour.

UK railways face significant safety and security risks. Trespass and intrusion potentially pose the most serious risks. Network Rail estimate an average of 19,000 incidents occur each year, causing 750,000 minutes of delays worth £75 million.

Vulnerable due to their remote nature and easy accessibility, incidents on the railway are hitting record numbers. Statistics from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) state that trespass on the railway line by members of the public, often youngsters, resulted in a 26% spike in accidental fatalities. As of 2025, accidental fatalities hit a five-year high.

With high-speed trains and live electrical systems to contend with, the public are often unaware of the risks associated with stepping onto an active railway. These risks include contact with the third rail, which powers trains with a high voltage direct current.

This lack of awareness can lead to unnecessary risk taking. In a national survey, Network Rail found that 38% wrongly believe electrocution from tracks will not cause serious injury. Trespass presents a major risk as it is a safety hazard with the potential for death.

The railway network is particularly threatened by cable theft. Notable incidents, like the 600m of copper cable stolen from the Eurostar resulting in thousands of passengers being delayed across three countries, only highlight the extent to which cable theft affects a rail network.

The rising price of copper has led to a major increase in thefts, notably by organised crime gangs who continue to target the material due to its high resale value. Cable theft is estimated to cost the UK economy £500 million each year.

However, it is the delays caused by cable theft that create the most damage to the rail network. Widespread disruption affects millions of passengers and halts essential freight services.

In 2022 alone, cable theft was found to contribute to 72,000 minutes (or around 50 days) of delays for commuters. Persistent delays can also damage the reputation of rail companies, risking widespread customer frustration.

The railway line, and stations in general, are both targets for anti-social behaviour. Low-level vandalism is common, including the smashing of glass, graffiti painting on station surfaces or train carriages, and damaging infrastructure.

Much of the rail network is remote and openly accessible. This open access infrastructure increases vulnerability to trespass, theft, interference with plant equipment and materials, or acts like arson.

Railway security is multi-layered and highly bespoke due to unique risk factors. Regardless, there are solutions capable of meeting specific requirements to ensure total protection.

The security risk assessment

An effective railway security strategy begins with a security risk assessment (SRA), which analyses potential threats to infrastructure, materials, passengers, staff, and the wider public.

Completing the risk assessment is a legal requirement within the UK, mandated under the Railways and Other Guided Transport Systems (ROGS) regulations 2006.

This risk assessment will identify the likelihood of any incidents and inform the approach that is required to mitigate them. To remain compliant and protected across the duration of a project, this risk assessment should be regularly reviewed and updated.

Physical security infrastructure

The nature of the railway environment and the risks faced will inform the physical security infrastructure utilised. Physical security measures are designed to deter and delay criminal activity, protecting the safety of the public.

These represent the first steps that should be taken to fortify the boundary of any accessible spaces that need to be restricted. This is desirable due to the often-exposed nature of these premises.

Secure fencelines, bollards, or barriers are commonly used to define boundaries and prevent railway trespass. These measures are deployed alongside track level, around active worksites, or at station entrances to protect vehicular access.

This type of deployment is often referred to as hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) and is increasingly desired to protect infrastructure against weaponised vehicles.

Access control should also extend to securing entry points for authorised personnel and contractors. Utilising secure doors will assist in stopping unauthorised personnel from gaining access.

Fixed CCTV and perimeter intrusion detection systems

With a physical security layer in place at the perimeter, an additional detection layer should then be implemented across railway infrastructure. This will often take the form of fixed CCTV or a perimeter intrusion detection device.

Fixed CCTV offers 4k image capture, with the potential for night vision. The best solution will be highly bespoke and customisable to the needs of a rail site, with optional integrations like ANPR, AI analytics or active thermal which improve detection capabilities.

A perimeter intrusion detection device offers temporary deterrence, detection, and real time alerts to any attempted site boundary breaches.

Perimeter intrusion detection devices, like those found in the Safer POD® family, offer some advantages compared to fixed CCTV. Typically, owing to their highly visible nature, they have a stronger deterrent effect in comparison to CCTV cameras placed along the perimeter.

Intrusion attempts often escalate into costly theft or vandalism incidents. Early, reliable, and proactive warning of unauthorised access with real time detection can be key to halting attempted intrusions before they escalate.

A reliable detection deployment will consider the suitability of its environment. Owing to the remote, isolated nature of railway projects, connectivity is often weak, and power sources are typically unreliable.

A solution like the Safer POD® S4/X4 mitigates these issues, equipped with dual 4G/5G roaming sims, optional Starlink connectivity, 580 watts of solar power and a methanol fuel cell.

As a project progresses and a site grows, scalability is achievable. The modular construction of this solution ensures manual handling compliance with no element being heavier than 25kg.

Perimeter intrusion detection systems rely on live monitoring, with alarm activations triggering an immediate escalation procedure which begins with the notification of threats to keyholders. Any potential incidents are mitigated within moments of the alarm procedure taking effect.

The UK railway network is both accessible and incredibly remote, making it uniquely susceptible to safety and security risks. With incidents continuing to rise, it is essential that the right security approach is adopted.

The most effective security strategy uses a multi-layered approach primarily focused on securing the site with a traditional physical security layer.

At the perimeter, the introduction of fixed CCTV assists with the identification of individuals involved in criminal incidents. With a perimeter intruder detection solution deployed, like those found in the Safer POD® family, a site benefits from enhanced deterrence and the ability to proactively detect threats.

Offering another layer of protection, the deployment of Safer POD® technology identifies threats before damage, disruption, or serious injuries occur. This proactivity is essential within the rail sector. With both lives and livelihoods at stake, every second counts.