The safety of railway infrastructure does not depend on a single component. Stations, tracks, overpasses, bridges and areas close to the overhead line equipment present different risks that should be assessed together from the design stage.

Unauthorised access, trespassing on railway tracks, acts of vandalism and objects thrown from elevated structures can affect people, train movements and service continuity. For this reason, high-security railway fencing should be integrated with other protection systems, including railings, handrails and catenary protection visors.

The objective is not simply to mark the boundary of an area. It is to create infrastructure capable of making trespassing more difficult, managing pedestrian movements and protecting the locations with the greatest exposure to risk.

Why is high-security railway fencing necessary?

Railway facilities frequently coexist with urban environments, industrial areas, roads and pedestrian routes. This proximity supports mobility, but it can also create uncontrolled access points to stations, platforms, technical compounds and operational tracks.

Unauthorised access can lead to collisions, service disruption, damage to railway assets and dangerous situations around electrical equipment. These risks are accompanied by vandalism, theft of materials and the creation of informal crossings over railway tracks.

The European Union Agency for Railways report on railway safety and interoperability highlights the importance of monitoring accidents involving unauthorised people on railway premises. This monitoring is essential both for protecting the public and for maintaining the safety and operational quality of the network.

Within this context, railway equipment systems should be selected according to the characteristics of the location, its level of use, the proximity of populated areas and the requirements established by the infrastructure manager.

Fencing as the first layer of protection

Railway fencing provides the first barrier between public space and a restricted area. Its design should clearly define the boundary, deter unauthorised entry and make the system more difficult to climb or tamper with.

Not every section of railway infrastructure requires the same solution. A station within an urban area presents different conditions from an interurban railway line, a technical compound or an overpass. The design should therefore respond to a prior risk assessment and should not be limited to the installation of conventional fencing.

Characteristics of high-security railway fencing

The main technical aspects to consider include:

  • The overall height of the fence and its suitability for the identified risk level.
  • The size and arrangement of the mesh to make climbing more difficult.
  • The strength of the posts, panels, connections and anchoring systems.
  • The use of security fixings that resist unauthorised tampering.
  • Adaptation to changes in gradient, curves and singular points.
  • The absence of lower or lateral gaps that could facilitate access.
  • Protection against corrosion and environmental conditions.
  • The ability to inspect, maintain and replace individual modules.

The SECURITY PLUS anti-intrusion fence, for example, uses steel panels with narrow mesh and tamper-resistant security fixings. Its configuration can be adapted to different heights, gradients and changes of direction, which is particularly important within railway environments with irregular geometries.

Protection against vandalism and thrown objects

In addition to access through the perimeter, risks can arise from elevated infrastructure crossing above the tracks. Bridges, viaducts, footbridges and overpasses can become locations from which objects are thrown onto trains, the railway platform or electrical installations.

At these locations, fencing should be designed to address not only intrusion but also the possibility of objects being thrown through or over the structure.

Anti-vandal fencing incorporates configurations and heights intended to increase the lateral protection of these structures. Its design should examine continuity between modules, connections with railings and vehicle restraint systems, the strength of the anchors and the elimination of vulnerable points at the ends.

The most appropriate solution will depend on factors such as the height of the crossing, the type of railway below it, whether the line is electrified, pedestrian movements and the proximity of urban areas. Each installation should therefore be defined according to the particular conditions of the project.

Handrails and accessible movement within stations

Railway safety also covers pedestrian routes. Passengers should be able to move through entrances, ramps, stairs, platforms and internal passageways in a stable and understandable manner.

Handrails help people maintain their balance and provide continuous support for older people, passengers with reduced mobility and travellers carrying luggage. To perform this function correctly, they should be integrated into the route and avoid unnecessary interruptions.

Their design should consider aspects such as installation height, continuity, clearance from the wall, ease of grip, the treatment of the ends and visual contrast. The final dimensions and configuration of the component should comply with accessibility requirements and the particular specifications of the project.

The concrete wall handrail is a solution comprising a longitudinal tubular component supported by posts and designed for installation within railway infrastructure. The ability to adapt the length and geometry of its modules makes it possible to address straight sections, curves, gradients and changes of direction.

Handrails do not replace railings or fences. Each component performs a different function: a handrail provides support during movement, a railing protects against falls and fencing restricts access to unauthorised areas.

Visors for protecting the catenary at overpasses

The catenary is one of the most sensitive parts of an electrified railway line. The proximity of overpasses, footbridges and bridges can create a risk of accidental contact or of objects falling or being thrown onto electrical equipment.

Catenary protection visors are installed at these locations to create a physical separation between people and the electrical lines. They also help to prevent objects thrown or dropped from the upper deck from reaching the catenary directly.

These solutions should be calculated by taking account of the applied loads, the geometry of the structure, the position of the conductors, safety clearances and the particular conditions of the location.

Metalesa’s visor combines a fibreglass panel laminated with polyester resin, a metal supporting structure and anchors defined through structural calculations. Its height can be adapted to the requirements of the project, while its metal components can receive protective treatments against corrosion.

Catenary protection should not be treated as an isolated intervention. To ensure that the system works coherently, its connections with railings, anti-vandal fencing and the ends of the overpass should be carefully considered. A discontinuity between components can create a vulnerable point within the overall system.

Manufacturing and anchors are also part of safety

The performance of a fence does not depend solely on its height or appearance. Material quality, manufacturing accuracy and anchor design influence its behaviour throughout its service life.

Modules should be manufactured to controlled tolerances to ensure that they connect correctly on site. Posts and base plates should withstand the expected loads, while screws, bolts and welds should prevent local tampering or failure from compromising an entire section.

Structural movement, expansion joints, gradients, curved alignments and changes of direction should also be considered. These singular points require specific components and connections, as a standard solution could leave gaps or discontinuities.

Durability is another safety requirement in outdoor environments. Treatments such as hot-dip galvanising and powder coating help to protect steel against moisture, oxidation and environmental exposure. The treatment should be selected according to the site conditions and the intended service life.

Criteria for defining a complete railway solution

Before selecting fencing or any other protective component, a coordinated assessment of the infrastructure should be undertaken. The aspects to review include:

  • Authorised access points and identified locations where trespassing occurs.
  • The proximity of homes, schools, paths or industrial areas.
  • The presence of platforms, overpasses, bridges and footbridges.
  • Whether the line is electrified and the position of the catenary.
  • Passenger routes and accessibility requirements.
  • The loads acting on fences, railings and anchors.
  • Environmental conditions and the level of exposure to corrosion.
  • Inspection, maintenance and component replacement tasks.
  • The requirements of the railway infrastructure manager and the project.

This assessment makes it possible to combine anti-intrusion fencing, anti-vandal fencing, railings, handrails and catenary protection visors within a coherent protection strategy.

A safety strategy adapted to each infrastructure

The protection of a station or railway line should be designed as a continuous system. Strong fencing can reduce access from outside, but it should be complemented by safe pedestrian routes and specific solutions for the locations presenting the greatest risks.

Handrails help passengers move more safely, railings protect changes in level and catenary protection visors reduce exposure to electrical equipment at overpasses. Coordinating these solutions makes it possible to address different risks without creating discontinuities.

For public authorities, railway infrastructure managers, engineering consultancies and construction companies, defining these components at an early stage facilitates their integration into the project, improves work planning and supports more structured maintenance throughout the service life of the infrastructure.

Railway safety begins with a rigorous assessment of the environment and continues through manufacturing, installation and inspection processes suited to the actual conditions of each location.