High Tech Security Systems for Dammam Riyadh Railway Line

UK defence and security firm QinetiQ has been awarded a USD $12 million contract to install a high tech security system along the 1000km line between Dammam and Riyadh. The system should enable maintenance and security teams to resolve any issues within a far shorter time than at present.

The OptaSense Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) fibre optic vibration monitoring system is designed to pick up intrusions on the line. Vibrations in an area will be sent to a computer that will use an algorithm to decide what the vibrations are, whether a train passing, other legitimate traffic, or deliberate trespass. The system will also enable detection of maintenance issues on trains such as faulty wheels.

The DAS system has proven track record in Saudi’s oil fields, and has enabled authorities to resolve security and maintenance issues in that industry. The contract enables QinetiQ to further establish its business interests in the region. Other GCC countries will be watching the roll out of the DAS system with interest with a view to using it throughout the GCC Railway Network.