Intelligent CCTV cameras to be installed at railway stations across Scotland by ScotRail

Dozens of train stations across Scotland are to receive new intelligent CCTV cameras to increase safety and security of passengers.

ScotRail announced that 60 stations across the country would have new cameras installed with upgraded intelligent video analytics.

The new cameras can analyse movements of customers on the platform to determine if members of the public are in unsafe situations, allowing the rail provider’s CCTV monitoring team to alert station staff, signallers, and British Transport Police, if necessary.

Everything from monitoring passenger numbers which will assist with crowd management to behavioural analytics which can identify people lingering in stations can be controlled via the new camera units.

It is hoped that the new equipment will help ScotRail identify vulnerable people and reduce fatalities on the railway, as well as combatting anti-social behaviour.

The upgrade is part of a £2m investment in the CCTV network across Scotland’s railways, which, in 2018, saw ScotRail move from 220 scrolling CCTV monitors covering more than 280 stations to a 24-screen intelligent video wall in our customer service centres.

With one of the largest CCTV networks in the UK, with more than 7,000 cameras monitoring over 350 stations, ScotRail staff remotely monitor from two customer service centres in Paisley and Dunfermline, where calls are also answered from help points.

Michael Arnott, ScotRail customer information operations manager, said: “ScotRail is committed to ensuring Scotland’s Railway is a safe environment for our customers and our people.

“The new CCTV analytics system is designed to provide even more security and reassurance to anyone using the network.

“The introduction of this cutting-edge technology means that our customer service team will now be alerted when anyone enters into an unsafe or restricted area of the railway, allowing them to alert signallers to stop trains, if needed, which could potentially save a life.”