Microwave Safety on the Tube

No, this isn't a post about how to carry your microwave safely on the London Underground. Metronet, one of the two main Tube maintenance firms, have signed an 8 year, multimillion quid contract to provide a new passenger microwave-based safety surveillance system on the London Underground.

The system can take images from up to eight high-quality CCTV cameras on each platform, & using video processors can then transmit a combined view of the train's exterior to the driver via a microwave radio link.


Telent, the technology company behind the service, has already provided a similar wireless track-to-train system in Hong Kong, and said it could offer a clear view of trains regardless of whether they were travelling in a straight line or through a curved platform.


Moves for improved passenger safety and security are being driven by the upcoming introduction of faster trains on the District, Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines. Just so people travelling on other lines don't feel left out, telent is currently working, in partnership with Amey, to upgrade and modernise over 100 London Underground stations on the Piccadilly, Northern and Jubilee lines, under a 13-year contract awarded by TubeLines in 2005.

Commenting on the Metronet contract win, Mark Plato, telent's CEO said, "We're delighted at the confidence Metronet has shown in our ability to deliver what will be a leading-edge passenger safety system, the first one based on microwave technology to be introduced in the UK. With over 30 years experience in metro and rail, telent's domain knowledge and technical expertise is unrivalled in this sector."