Wabtec given task of upgrading fleet on East Coast line
A DONCASTER railway engineering firm is upgrading the East Coast railway's fleet of trains with a security camera system.
Engineers from Hexthorpe based Wabtec Rail, which is on the site of the former Doncaster Plantworks, are currently carrying out work which is designed to improve passenger safety on the line.
The installation of the cameras, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year, will see a total of 1,621 CCTV cameras fitted throughout East Coast's 43 trains, representing a 3.8 million investment in the rolling stock.
The cameras will be serving the line which links Doncaster with London in the south and Edinburgh the north, which was taken into public ownership last year from previous operators National Express.
CCTV cameras will be fitted to the interiors of train carriages to enhance the safe environment for passengers and to deter any anti-social behaviour.
A number of forward-facing cameras will also be installed within the train driver's cab to help monitor and assess operational incidents from the driver's perspective.
East Coast engineering director Ian Duncan said: "The installation of CCTV cameras throughout the East Coast train fleet demonstrates our investment in the rolling stock, and our commitment to passenger safety.
"On the very rare occasions a minority of individuals causes problems on our trains, CCTV systems on board will help protect passengers and our staff against anti-social behaviour, assist authorities with convictions against offenders, and hopefully act as a deterrent.
"The introduction of CCTV on board our trains will help to reassure our customers that the train is a safe way to travel."
Guy Dangerfield, passenger focus manager, said: "This is good news for passengers as the new equipment will help to deter crime and anti-social behaviour, both of which our research has shown to be of concern to passengers."
Work to fit CCTV systems to East Coast's electric trains is already under way, starting with the installation of cameras within the driver's cab.
Cameras will be installed in the carriages on the electric trains next month.
Work on the diesel High Speed Trains has already begun, with two full train sets complete, and the remaining sets expected to be complete by October.
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