Keeping eye on rail tracks (From This is Hampshire)

Keeping eye on rail tracks

8:47am Tuesday 25th December 2007 in

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AN eye in the sky will be keeping tabs on the railway network today (Christmas Day) and Boxing Day to make sure services return smoothly on Thursday.

Network Rail is mobilising its helicopter over the south's tracks while passenger services are suspended for the holiday.

The aim is to keep an eye on the ground and any issues that might cause a problem, so they can be fixed in time for services resuming.

The chopper allows the infrastructure to be monitored and alerts teams on the ground to attend any problems.

It uses equipment such as thermal imaging cameras to survey the tracks.

David Pape, Network Rail Wessex route director, said: "Despite the fact that passenger train services will not be running on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, we will be using the helicopter to keep a close eye on any issues that arise on the ground.

"The helicopter is a valuable resource and will enable us to make sure that any issues that arise do not lead to delays when trains begin to run again on the 27th."