UK Railway BVLOS Drone Trial to Launch This Summer in East London
UK rail operator GBR Anglia will launch a BVLOS drone trial this summer in Romford, East London, operated by heliguy on behalf of Network Rail. Approved by the UK Civil Aviation Authority after 16 months of development, the trial will provide real-time aerial imagery within 400 metres of the Romford Rail Operating Centre, with plans to extend coverage up to 4 kilometres across the Anglia region.
Highlights
- GBR Anglia will launch a CAA-approved BVLOS drone trial in Romford, East London this summer, operated by heliguy on behalf of Network Rail.
- The trial provides real-time aerial imagery within a 400-metre radius of the Romford Rail Operating Centre to accelerate trespass incident response.
- Future expansion plans aim to extend BVLOS drone coverage up to 4 kilometres across strategic sites in the Anglia region.
- A parallel BVLOS drone trial is simultaneously being conducted by Network Rail on the Western route in Gloucester.
- The programme was developed over 16 months and is intended to reduce the need for staff to enter high-risk railway areas.
UK Railway BVLOS Drone Trial to Launch This Summer in East London
UK rail operator GBR Anglia is set to launch a new beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone service trial this summer in Romford, East London. The programme is designed to support faster responses to trespass incidents and enable earlier identification of infrastructure issues across the East Anglia region.
CAA Approval Secured After 16 Months of Development
The trial has received formal approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Following 16 months of development work, BVLOS drone operations will be conducted by drone services specialist heliguy on behalf of Network Rail.
Coverage, Capabilities, and Technical Advantages
The trial will allow Network Rail teams at the Romford Rail Operating Centre to access live aerial imagery within a 400-metre radius, enabling faster on-the-ground situational awareness compared to conventional drone systems. The approach is also expected to reduce the need for staff to enter high-risk areas.
Future plans call for expanding BVLOS drone operations to strategic locations across the Anglia region, with flight ranges extending up to 4 kilometres.
Parallel Trial Underway in Gloucester
In parallel, Network Rail is conducting a separate trial on the Western route in Gloucester. Together, both trials will help Network Rail evaluate how BVLOS drone technology can support faster incident response and more efficient infrastructure inspection operations.
Source: Network Rail | Images: Network Rail / heliguy
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