New cameras are being installed by South Eastern Railway to monitor areas which are at risk of flooding. It is hoped they will reduce disruption by sending early warning of rising water levels or drainage problems.

Five trial locations with a history of flooding have been chosen. One of them is Wadhurst, where a flood delayed trains by more than 78 hours and caused extensive damage to the railway in October 2024.

The other sites are Hildenborough, Lower Sydenham, Sevenoaks and Selling Tunnel, and Stonegate has since been added.

The cameras are being supplied by Vision Link, which has been working with Nrtwork Rail and the Environment Agency.

During severe weather the live camera feeds allow engineers to monitor water levels and see how well drains are working. As a result, it is less likely that lines will be closed unnecessarily, while fewer routine site visits will be needed.

South Eastern Railway senior network delivery manager Will Shepherd said: ‘This technology gives us real-time insight into what’s happening on the ground, allowing us to prioritise our response and keep trains moving safely. It’s a smart, scalable solution that supports our wider strategy for climate resilience and operational efficiency.

‘What excites me most is that the cameras don’t just help us react to flooding, they give us the insight to act before it happens. By spotting when the risk of flooding is increasing, we can intervene early and reduce the chance of disruption.

‘Above all, it’s about doing the right thing for our passengers. By improving how we monitor and respond to flooding, we can avoid unnecessary disruption and keep services running - even in challenging conditions. Our teams are committed to making every journey as safe and reliable as possible, whatever the weather.’

SER expects to install the cameras this autumn, following demonstrations and site assessments. The trial will help SER choose further sites and also whether more flood monitoring features, such as catchpit sensors and flood level trackers, should be added. Another six cameras are expected in the near future.

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