COVERT CAMERAS CATCHING TRAIN TROUBLEMAKERS

NSW Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance today unveiled new technology that is detecting troublemakers and graffiti vandals risking their lives on train tracks, within seconds of culprits trespassing on the railway corridor.

The new Sydney Trains technology uses motion-activated cameras to catch anyone who is on train tracks illegally or breaking into fenced-off areas of the rail network.

“Mirroring the success of Mousetrap technology that catches graffiti vandals on train carriages, these cameras, known as Mousetrap: Land Based, are about saving lives by catching rail corridor trespassers in the act,” Mr Constance said.

When activated, the cameras start capturing still images that are sent to Sydney Trains security monitoring staff, who then dispatch police to the scene.

“This can be deployed anywhere, at any time. The simple message is - don’t break the law or you’ll be tracked down,” Mr Constance said.

Police have already used it to arrest a trespasser at Chatswood and a group of youths risking the lives of train customers’ by placing rocks on the line on the Central Coast. The cameras are mobile, so can be installed in bushland along fencing and track lines to target known trespassing hot spots.

The cameras have infrared capabilities to detect illegal activity at night. That includes people taking shortcuts across the tracks.

“We do as much as we can to keep train customers safe, including having more than 10,000 CCTV cameras across the network, emergency help points at stations so people can report trespassing and installing fencing around our stabling yards and parts of the corridor,” Mr Constance said.