UK Rail Workers Switch from Moble to Radio Units

Railway staff working for the UK's Southeastern and South West Trains are to ditch their mobile phones for TETRA based radios to improve communications in areas where mobile coverage is still patchy.

The railway organisations will provide their security officers with access to AirwaveÃ's public safety network. Airwave will enable immediate and direct contact between rail security officers and the police, helping them to respond much more efficiently and effectively to a security situation than was possible previously.

SoutheasternÃ's Head of Crime and Security, Paul Nicholas, commented: "After arriving at Southeastern following a role with the British Transport Police, it was clear that the communication between our railway enforcement officers and the British Transport Police was less than optimal. Now, being able to communicate on AirwaveÃ's network allows us to increase both employee and customer safety whilst improving our ability to deal with the small minority of passengers that try and disrupt our train service. We are very proud to be the first railway organisation that has been recognised by Ofcom for full sharer status as an organisation that provides emergency assistance to the police."

Southeastern has completed its implementation, supplying over 70 of its rail enforcement officers with Airwave handsets. South West Trains is due to finalise its deployment in September 2008.

Posted to the site on 1st August 2008