Freightliner, a leading intermodal rail freight operator in the UK, has improved surveillance at its Manchester terminal by replacing an analogue system with 13 Axis 211 and Axis P1343 network cameras.
The cameras are located in strategic positions so as to be able to record registration plates and container IDs as vehicles arrive and leave the terminal. They’re also used for security purposes at the terminal gates.
Andy Murphy, deputy general manager at the terminal, said: “The cameras have helped us to streamline our operations. For example, we can now monitor traffic queues at the gates, and they also help us plan the allocation of equipment around the site as the cameras can monitor what’s needed in a specific location.”
According to Murphy, the image quality rendered by the cameras is “excellent”. He added: “The strength of the night-time images has also surprised us.”
Axis 233D and 232D network dome cameras provide the terminal’s managers with an overview of operations across the site, with the P3343-VE models recording images of the drivers. Axis Camera Station is used to view footage simultaneously, and allows the end user to quickly locate and distribute that footage.
Determining whether or not claims are genuine
In the event of a claim being made against Freightliner for damage to containers, the system allows managers to quickly establish if this is genuine or if the container was already damaged on arrival.
Murphy continued: “In the past, searching for a specific piece of footage has been extremely time-consuming. We needed a solution that would allow us to speed up this process and share footage electronically with others quickly and easily. All of our cameras have motion detection which also allows our operators to monitor in real time when a situation arises.”
Running the system in-house coupled with the quality and durability of the cameras and software means that Freightliner’s maintenance costs have been significantly reduced.
NW Systems Group, an Axis Gold Partner, has already successfully upgraded the surveillance systems across many of the Freightliner sites.
For more information about Axis’ range of network video cameras and applications visit the website (a dedicated link is provided on the right hand panel of this page)
