Rail Industry, Track and Infrastructure Time-Lapse

Time-Lapse Systems has been at the forefront of providing custom ultra-high definition time-lapse and site reporting solutions to a wide range of rail projects since 2007.

Rail industry time-lapse and site monitoring

We’ve been privileged to have been chosen to work across prestigious projects for the locomotive and rail industries. Our clients trust us to deliver capture in complex environments, with our experienced in-house team providing micro-managed bespoke solutions for a variety of challenging rail projects.
As the leading provider of time-lapse solutions for the UK’s biggest rail infrastructure specialists, our rail time-lapse and monitoring work has seen us traverse the country. We’ve captured multiple projects for prominent clients such as the Department of Transport, HS2, CrossRail, and Network Rail, as well as for numerous regional services including MerseyRail. Volker Rail, Maritime Transport Ltd, DB Cargo and other well-regarded transportation companies also use our services to document their rail projects.

TIME-LAPSING TRACK UPGRADES.

As new rail lines are constructed and others need renewing, Time-Lapse Systems have been documenting progress. We work with rail companies such as VolkerRail, who regularly use our time-lapse services to capture their work improving light and heavy railways: They have used our footage to publicise the work undertaken to replace tracks on the street running rails on the Sheffield Supertram Network, to keep the public and commuters well informed. The time-lapse edit promotes how closing and working on different sections of the tram network made it effective for a further 20 years. VolkerRail also used time-lapse to capture the realignment of 810m of track between Kenilworth and Leamington Spa. The project took over 35 weeks to complete and therefore caused disruption. Documenting the work via time-lapse allowed them to visually show the level of work involved in the project. Our time-lapse footage also captured the Bromsgrove blockade, a partnership between Volker Rail, Siemens Network Rail and Siemens Rail Automation to complete work on the £100m upgrade in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. As part of this upgrade project, VolkerRail captured the removal and construction of new track and points, on the approach to the new Bromsgrove Station, bringing into use a new platform.

LARGE SCALE RAIL INDUSTRY PROJECTS.

Time-Lapse Systems is proud to be the trusted service provider for HS2. Since the project’s inception, a multitude of our camera systems have been capturing in various locations. For example: we have documented work at Old Oak Common Station, a new super-hub that is part of the government-backed High Speed 2 project. Our systems are also capturing works around Euston, as well as birds-eye cameras providing views of progress across the whole of the London section of works. In addition, we’ve also covered the archaeological digs at St James Gardens, with footage featured on the BBC’s Britain’s Biggest Dig. Several of our systems are capturing in Birmingham, around the Curzon Street, at what will be the heart of the high-speed rail network. We’ve also been using time-lapse photography and its monitoring capabilities throughout the large-scale CrossRail project. Also known as the Elizabeth Line, this is one of the largest construction projects in Europe. Using our services, the major construction firms involved in the project – Bam Nuttall, Bauer and Kier monitor progress via our secure online viewing portal. This has included the building a new access shaft at Moorgate station, removal of deep foundations; the construction of a concrete diaphragm wall and installation of new 60m piles.

CAPTURING RAILWAY STATIONS.

Our camera systems are installed to report as VolkerFitzpatrick builds a brand-new rail station – Brent Cross West – on the Midland Main Line and Thameslink routes for London’s Barnet Council. We have also been capturing station upgrades including platform fit-out and concourse improvements across the country: At Birkenhead North Train Station, we provided rail time-lapse as contractor Morgan Sindall worked alongside Network Rail and Merseyrail to install a new bridge that included lifts to add disabled access to platforms. At Orrell Park Lift and Link Project, our camera system documented the work delivered by Merseyrail which was funded by MerseyTravel, Network Rail, and the Department of Transport. Whilst on another project for MerseyRail we captured developments at Hamilton Square railway station. For Network Rail we’ve also captured numerous projects around the UK and in particular, Greater Manchester, including time-lapsing work at Rochdale Station and improvement works on the railway through Manchester Airport. Volker Rail has documented their work bringing Kenilworth Station back into service after 53 years through our time-lapse services. We’ve covered station works for Cleshar Contract Services at Richmond and Hammersmith Stations. Our time-lapse has also informed the public of developments at Chingford station.

Euston Approach

documenting bridges.

Across the UK, bridges are being built and maintained to keep the rail network moving.
Our time-lapse services captured the Staffordshire Alliance project, a joint venture of Laing O’Rourke, Network Rail, Atkins, and VolkerRail that undertook the complex Norton Bridge works. This major engineering achievement was part of Network Rail’s £40bn Railway Upgrade Plan. Multiple camera systems were installed for the Staffordshire Alliance Improvements Programme, helping to capture a key part of the upgrade – a new rail-over-rail flyover allowing trains to travel over the existing lines – removing the last major pinch-point from the West Coast Main Line, in Staffordshire.
We have also provided short-term time-lapse capture of a 450-tonne bridge being built and moved by Network Rail as part of West Coast mainline upgrades in Watford. Using higher capture rates, peak activity was documented so Network Rail could communicate the detailed work to the public and their passengers. Whilst another of our projects for Network Rail captured the installation of a pedestrian bridge near Swindon with Black Diamond.
Time-Lapse Systems are pleased to work with a wide range of rail companies, from large-scale Network Rail to the more niche heritage railways. For The North Yorkshire Moors Railway, we captured the replacement of Goathland Bridge and created a video to showcase this heritage project.
Whatever the size of the company, our time-lapse photography and videos can be used to document and showcase rail projects.

Crossrail

TIME-LAPSing tunnels

As part of Network Rail’s initiative to keep the public engaged with progress on upgrades and maintenance work on their rail lines, we provided long-term capture of the Farnworth Tunnel electrical upgrade in Bolton. Farnworth Tunnel was enlarged using the UK’s largest tunnel boring machine, so it was imperative that visual reporting was undertaken to document the exacting work in detail. Due to changeable weather this long-term project (as with many outdoor rail projects) benefitted from our camera systems remote time-lapse capabilities to ensure the best capture throughout.
Our skilled engineers and equipment also have extensive experience of working underground and in tunnels for CrossRail, covering work on 73 miles of track running underneath and across London.
We are also documenting the boring of numerous tunnels on different sites as part of the new HS2 network.

Crossrail development works at Moorgate Station

Railway depot reporting

Over the years, we have worked for Maritime Transport Ltd, documenting work at their railway depots and facilities. We have captured a 24-hour ‘day in the life’ time-lapse of their facility in Tamworth and have also completed a time-lapse at Toton Sidings – one of the largest rail depots.

We had the privilege of strategically installing four camera systems for a short-term capture at Toton as part of the collaboration between Maritime Transport Ltd and DB Cargo. Our time-lapse captured DB Cargo’s Paint Shop Team at Toton TMD transforming Class 66 locomotives into the Maritime livery. This footage was then edited by our in-house team into a one-minute video to celebrate the partnership project.

WHY USE TIME-LAPSE SYSTEMS on rail projects?

With prominent clients such as the Department of Transport, HS2, CrossRail, and Network Rail as well as numerous regional operators, Time-Lapse Systems is well respected within the rail industry and highly specialised in fulfilling complex project needs.

As one of the world’s leading time-lapse specialists, we are well known for building each camera system to the exact specifications of each rail project. As all of our equipment and software are developed in-house we have full control over our systems, and their continued customisation and development. We never use inferior ‘off the shelf’ or third-party software or hardware.

Many of our rail projects involve challenging environments, however, we are very experienced and we always operate to the highest standards of health and safety. We have membership of four SIPPS accreditation bodies and all our engineers have IPAF, PASMA, CSCS training and qualifications.

Our use of the highest security protocols is also important to our clients within the rail industry, government, and high-security projects. This, along with our experience, portfolio, dedication, and reputation for the highest quality work means we are a trusted partner by high-profile rail clients. Please get in touch to find out more.