Telford security firm SmartWater in railway deal

A Telford-based security firm has signed a multi-million pound deal to help trap thieves raiding railway lines.

SmartWater Technology Ltd has won a contract with Network Rail to use its unique forensic trap devices to catch persistent offenders - on the main line between London and the North West (LNW).

Metal theft has cost Network Rail more than £35 million in repair bills and fines since the 2006/07 financial year and has been responsible for 1,165,000 minutes of commuter delays.

Now Network Rail hopes SmartWater will help catch thieves, and because the traps make the stolen goods easy to identify and hard to sell, deter them too.

SmartWater Chief Executive, Phil Cleary, said: "Metal theft is an international problem and we are committed to working with Network Rail, as well as the police and other law enforcement agencies, to continue to tackle this issue.

"SmartWater has developed a long-term strategy to combat this type of theft which will see the deployment of an array of sophisticated products and crime prevention measures. "

Forensic coding

SmartWater will also be deploying forensic coding to mark sections of trackside cable with a chemical liquid that is virtually impossible to remove and able to withstand burning.

Network Rail's route director Jo Kaye said: "Cable theft is a massive drain on our resources and a major inconvenience to train operators, their passengers and freight.

"Cable theft has cost the company over £35 million in compensation and damage repairs since 2006. That is effectively wasted money that would be better spent improving and enhancing the railways for the benefit of everyone."

SmartWater has already been deployed along an isolated hotspot area of track in the West Midlands and it is also used on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. Since its introduction, no further thefts have taken place.

The traps will be used in hotspot areas across Network Rail's LNW line, which runs through several major cities including London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester.

Virgin Trains' head of fleet and engineering Gary Hambling said: "Cable thieves often do more than just steal cable as they leave troughing lids, tools or materials strewn on or near the line, which is an added hazard to trains.

"The use of SmartWater and investment and training in people to use the equipment has to be a positive way forward for the industry."