Network Rail, the owner and operator of Britain’s railway infrastructure, has partnered with Earth observation analytics company CATALYST, part of PCI Geomatics, on a 12-week pilot exploring how satellite data could help identify weather-related risks to railway infrastructure across the Wessex Route before disruption occurs.
The pilot brought together Network Rail’s Wessex Route Operations and Resilience teams with CATALYST to develop a prototype Earth observation-enabled decision-support system. The solution combines satellite-derived risk indicators with short-range weather forecasts to provide operational teams with an earlier view of potential flooding and vegetation hazards.
Satellite Data Could Improve Rail Risk Planning
The prototype explored whether Network Rail could identify areas at increased risk up to three days ahead of forecast weather events.
By combining Earth observation data with weather information, the system highlighted locations where flooding or vegetation risks could become elevated. Network Rail said such information could, subject to further development and validation, complement existing inspection planning and help teams prioritise resources more effectively.
The approach could prove particularly useful on climate-sensitive routes, where extreme rainfall, flooding and vegetation growth can create operational and infrastructure challenges.
Satellite-derived risk forecasts could provide railway operators with an additional layer of information before adverse weather arrives, potentially allowing inspection and maintenance teams to focus their efforts on the locations most likely to require intervention.
Network Rail Explores Space-Based Infrastructure Monitoring
The pilot forms part of Network Rail’s wider interest in space-enabled technologies as an additional tool for infrastructure risk management.
Thomas Desmond, Operations Director at Network Rail, said the project demonstrated how satellite-derived datasets and weather information could provide operational teams with earlier insight into potential risks.
“This pilot has explored how satellite-derived datasets and weather information could give operational teams an earlier view of potential vegetation and flooding risks.”
Desmond said further development of the technology could support more targeted inspections and interventions, reduce avoidable disruption and strengthen resilience across routes exposed to climate-related risks.
The pilot does not yet represent a fully operational forecasting system. Further development and validation would be required before the technology could be incorporated into Network Rail’s wider operational processes.
However, the project demonstrates the potential for Earth observation data to complement conventional railway inspection and monitoring methods, giving infrastructure managers additional information to support preventative action ahead of severe weather.
As extreme weather events increasingly create challenges for transport infrastructure, satellite-based analytics could become a valuable part of the wider toolkit used to anticipate disruption and improve the resilience of railway networks.
