Great Western Railway built a new Security Operations Centre (SOC) in Swindon, replacing its previous CCTV suite with a purpose-built facility designed for the full demands of a modern rail security operation. GWR needed a single, unified platform capable of bringing together CCTV, live train data, operational data and information under one roof. TDM delivered that solution, acting as system integrator between Barco and GWR’s security and resilience team, building the network infrastructure the system runs on, and upgrading GWR’s video management system (VMS) from the ground up. The result is a control room built for the demands of one of the UK’s largest rail networks.
GWR’s Security Operations Centre (SOC) is the hub for safety and security across the entire GWR estate. Before the new SOC was established, GWR relied on a conventional CCTV suite with no integration between systems. Live train information, operational data and operational dashboards were spread across separate screens and systems, with no integration between them.
Operators had to switch between multiple devices to piece together a complete operational picture. During high-pressure situations, including missing persons incidents, major public events, or disruptions on the network, that fragmentation cost time. GWR needed a single platform, accessible from every operator position and the video wall, that could unify every source instantly.
The existing video management system presented a further challenge. Running on outdated hardware using obsolete hosting methods, it was overdue for replacement. Any solution needed to address the VMS alongside the control room itself.
GWR approached TDM to find the right solution. With 25 years of experience delivering data and communication infrastructure in rail and other critical environments, TDM assessed the requirements and recommended a solution built around Barco technology, backed by a live demonstration at Barco’s Customer Experience Centre in Bracknell.
TDM’s role went beyond the technology itself. As system integrator, TDM bridged Barco’s technology and GWR’s security and resilience team, providing the LAN network and supporting infrastructure the entire system relies on. TDM managed the project from temporary installation through to full integration, coordinating across Barco, GWR’s security and resilience team, and the wider estate.
Barco UniSee 500 Video Wall The centrepiece of the new SOC is a 4×2 Barco UniSee 500 video wall, built from industrial-grade, bezel-less LCD displays. With no plastic edges and no visible borders between panels, the result is a virtually seamless viewing surface, critical for an environment where operators need to monitor operational data, CCTV feeds, and live train information simultaneously across 16 sources without detail being lost at display boundaries.
Barco CTRL Integration Platform Barco CTRL serves as the operational brain of the SOC. The platform allows operators to pull in any source, including CCTV, Train Information System, operational data, web applications and more, and display them flexibly on the video wall or at individual operator positions. Three operators can control exactly what appears on the wall, mix and match sources, and switch configurations using a single keyboard and mouse.
A key capability for GWR is the Compositions feature. GWR’s network serves locations at the heart of major national events, including royal occasions at Windsor, the Glastonbury festival, and race days at Newbury Racecourse. For each scenario, operators can activate pre-defined compositions that instantly surface the most relevant sources, removing the need to manually search and arrange feeds when time is critical.
A key capability for GWR is the Compositions feature. GWR’s network serves locations at the heart of major national events, including royal occasions at Windsor, the Glastonbury festival, and race days at Newbury Racecourse. For each scenario, operators can activate pre-defined compositions that instantly surface the most relevant sources, removing the need to manually search and arrange feeds when time is critical.
Network Infrastructure TDM provided the LAN network and supporting equipment that the Barco system operates on. This foundational infrastructure layer is what makes the integration between Barco CTRL, the video wall, operator positions, and GWR’s security and resilience team possible.
VMS Upgrade As part of the wider project, TDM upgraded GWR’s entire video management system. The existing VMS was running on outdated hardware using obsolete hosting methods. TDM replaced it with current hardware and software, making GWR’s CCTV estate more reliable, more secure, and better positioned to support the demands of a modern security operation.
The project progressed from a temporary screen installation in September 2025 to a fully integrated Security Operations Centre in 2026. Operators now have a unified view of every critical information source from a single platform, reducing the time needed to assess situations and respond to incidents across the network.
Pre-defined compositions mean the right information is on screen the moment it matters, whether that is a missing person report, a disruption on the network, or a major event day. The upgraded VMS brings GWR’s CCTV infrastructure in line with current standards, improving reliability and security across the estate. And because the Barco CTRL platform scales by adding encoders or decoders, the SOC is ready to grow as GWR’s requirements evolve.
