Mechanics and flagmen daily walk many kilometres along the railway network to inspect the points. A time-consuming and dull job, that should be done during short periods in which lines are closed to traffic.

This will no longer be required near Amsterdam Transformatorweg, where seven advanced video cameras of Strukton Railinfra will be used to monitor the switches. The cameras will be fixed above the points. A separate pen/tilt unit will enable them to be turned in all directions.

The cameras will be controlled through joysticks from the Amsterdam office of Strukton Railinfra. The camera can zoom in on the switches to even make the paws of a mosquito on a rail clearly visible. The images are shown on a screen at the Amsterdam offices of Strukton Railinfra, where they are also recorded.

Digital inspection has many advantages. Inspecting no longer requires lines to be closed to traffic and can be done at any moment of the day. Delays resulting from inspection works belong to the past. The switches can be seen and zoomed in from all sides. And the data can be recorded digitally.

The Amsterdam project is a pilot project. The first camera has been installed; the other six cameras will follow in July. The pilot project will last till the end of the year. A further rollout over the Dutch railway network is not unlikely if the pilot turns out to be a success.