Physical protection

A physical barrier between people and moving trains.

Physical protection is used during railway works to create a clear boundary between the working area and operational rail traffic. A temporary physical railway safety barrier helps prevent workers from unintentionally entering the danger zone while trains continue to operate on the adjacent track.

Unlike visual demarcation alone, a physical barrier provides a continuous, visible and physical separation between people and moving trains. It creates a clearly defined working area for railway maintenance, inspections, track renewals and construction activities alongside operational tracks.

Safetech Fence is Rail Safety Constructions' temporary physical railway safety barrier, developed specifically for railway works alongside operational rail traffic.

The modular system is installed without digging or ballast disturbance and can be removed and reused after the work is completed. Safetech Fence is available with Mechanical or Magnetic rail attachment, allowing the most suitable attachment principle to be used for different railway infrastructures and track configurations.

Maintenance & inspections

Temporary physical protection for track maintenance, inspections and technical work carried out alongside operational railway lines.

Track renewals

A physical safety barrier for track renewal projects where adjacent railway lines remain open to traffic.

Railway construction

Clearly separates construction teams and work areas from moving trains during railway infrastructure projects.

Short-term works

Rapidly deployable physical protection for short-duration railway works where installation time and trackside exposure need to be minimised.

One mission. Two complete systems.

Designed for different railway infrastructures.

Railway networks use different rail fastening systems. That is why Safetech Fence is available with two attachment principles: Mechanical and Magnetic.

Mechanical

A proven, cost-efficient physical railway safety barrier for networks with compatible rail fastening systems.

The Mechanical Safetech Fence attaches directly to compatible rail fastening systems. It requires no digging or ballast disturbance and enables fast, one-sided installation alongside operational railway lines.

Cost-efficient by design

Selected by Deutsche Bahn

3-year framework agreement

No digging. No ballast disturbance.

Fast one-sided installation

Compatibility & application

Fastening systems

  • Vossloh fastening systems
  • KPO / K-type rail fastening systems
  • SB fastenings
  • Special configurations on request

ESTABLISHED APPLICATIONS

Netherlands

Germany

Czech Republic

Poland

The Baltics

EN 16704-2-2 certified | Patented system

Magnetic

A physical railway safety barrier designed independently of the rail fastening system.

The Magnetic Safetech Fence attaches directly to the rail web using a magnetic rail attachment. This makes the system independent of the existing rail fastening system, without digging or ballast disturbance.

Independent of rail fastening systems

Direct magnetic attachment to the rail web

Designed for international compatibility

No digging. No ballast disturbance.

Fast one-sided installation

Compatibility & application

Rail attachment

Direct attachment to the rail web, independent of the rail fastening system.

UNIVERSAL APPLICATION

Designed for international use across different rail networks, independent of sleeper type and rail fastening system

EN 16704-2-2 certified | Patented system

Assembly & disassembly

Safetech Fence is a temporary physical railway safety barrier that can be installed and removed entirely from one side of the track, without digging or disturbing the ballast.

A complete installation of 51 metres of the Mechanical Safetech Fence by two people in 4:59, filmed alongside live track in real time with nothing cut or sped up.

A complete removal of 51 metres of the Mechanical Safetech Fence by two people in 3:38, filmed alongside live track in real time with nothing cut or sped up.

Rail profile compatibility

Safetech Fence is suitable for most common European Vignole rail profiles and other flat-bottomed rail applications.

For both systems

Mechanical & magnetic

49E1

S49

54E1

UIC54

54E2

UIC54E

54E3

S54

56E1

BS113A

60E1/E2

UIC60

Other rail profiles and track configurations can be assessed on request. See the full list of compatible rail profiles.

Accessories & special solutions

Complete the system using accessories and special solutions for switches, increased barrier heights, transport and handling.

Special track solutions

Switch stanchion

Adjustable Safetech Fence stanchion for switches and complex track configurations.

Flexible positioning allows the physical barrier to continue through different switch and track geometries.

Height extension

Adjustable height extension for increasing the Safetech Fence barrier height by 450–600 mm.

Mounts directly onto the standard Safetech Fence stanchion for applications requiring additional barrier height.

Transport & handling

Stanchion transport rack

Safe and efficient transport and storage of Safetech Fence stanchions.

Beam transport rack

Safe and efficient transport and storage of Safetech Fence beams.

Track trolley

Rail trolley for efficient on-track transport of Safetech Fence racks and components.

Certificates & approvals

Documentation for both Safetech Fence systems.

Mechanical Safetech Fence

Certification

EN 16704-2-2 certificate

European standard for temporary safety fences on railways.

National approvals

Germany

DB Systemtechnik certification for the Safetech Fence mechanical railway safety barrier (Feste Absperrung), Certificate No. 20-58363-34.

Germany

Deutsche Bahn network approval for the Mechanical Safetech Fence (Feste Absperrung) for use on the German rail network.

Netherlands

railAlert product certification for the Safetech Fence physical railway safety barrier, certified by Aboma Rail for use as a workplace safety measure against collision risk.

Netherlands

DEKRA Rail certification for the Safetech Fence as a workplace safety device for use on the Dutch rail network.

Czech Republic

Official approval for the Safetech Fence mechanical railway safety barrier for use on the Czech railway network operated by Správa železnic.

Patents

EP3670742B1

Patented rail attachment technology for the Safetech Fence temporary physical railway safety barrier.

EP3978685B1

Patented adjustable track-mounted stanchion for installing the Safetech Fence alongside railway switches and turnouts.

Magnetic Safetech Fence

Certification

EN 16704-2-2 certificate

European standard for temporary safety fences on railways.

National approvals

Germany

DB Netz AG (now DB InfraGO), framework agreement

Patents

WO2026073564A1

Published international patent application for the hybrid magnetic and mechanical rail attachment technology of the Safetech Fence.

Need documentation for a specific country or railway network?

Contact us for certificates, approvals and technical documentation.

Request documentation

Application is subject to applicable national regulations, infrastructure manager requirements and local approval or homologation.

Knowledge base

Frequently asked questions: Mechanical & Magnetic railway safety barriers.

What is the difference between the Mechanical and Magnetic Safetech Fence?

The main difference is how the safety barrier is attached to the railway track.

The Mechanical Safetech Fence uses a mechanical clamping system connected to the rail fastening and is a robust, cost-efficient solution for compatible track infrastructure.

The Magnetic Safetech Fence attaches directly to the web of the rail using powerful magnets, making it independent of the sleeper and rail fastening type and suitable for a wider range of track configurations.

Both systems provide the same physical protection, can be installed entirely from one side of the track, and require no digging or ballast disturbance.

What is the adjustable distance of the Safetech Fence from the track centre?

The Safetech Fence can be adjusted from 1.95 m to 2.55 m from the track centre, in 100 mm increments. This adjustable range applies to both the Mechanical and Magnetic Safetech Fence systems for standard European applications. Different distances can be accommodated for specific countries or infrastructure requirements.

How much does the Safetech Fence weigh?

Mechanical stanchion: 10.4 kg
Magnetic stanchion: 9.4 kg
3 m GFRP beam: 4 kg

Which rail fastening systems are compatible with the Mechanical and Magnetic Safetech Fence?

The Mechanical Safetech Fence is currently suitable for Vossloh, KPO, K-type and SB rail fastening systems. Compatibility with other fastening systems is available on request.

The Magnetic Safetech Fence attaches directly to the web of the rail and is therefore independent of the rail fastening and sleeper type, allowing it to be used across a wide range of track configurations.

How fast can the Safetech Fence be installed and removed?

Safetech Fence is designed for fast installation and removal with a small team. Two people can install 100 metres in under 10 minutes.

In our real-time demonstration, two people install 51 metres in less than 5 minutes and remove the same 51 metres in 3 minutes and 38 seconds.

Both the Mechanical and Magnetic Safetech Fence can be installed and removed entirely from one side of the track, without digging or disturbing the ballast.

How are the Mechanical and Magnetic Safetech Fence systems attached to the track?

The Mechanical Safetech Fence uses a mechanical clamping system connected to the rail fastening.

The Magnetic Safetech Fence attaches directly to the web of the rail using powerful magnets and is therefore independent of the rail fastening and sleeper type.

Are the Mechanical and Magnetic Safetech Fence systems certified according to EN 16704-2-2?

Both the Mechanical and Magnetic Safetech Fence comply with EN 16704-2-2, the European standard applicable to temporary barriers used during railway works.

Country-specific approvals or acceptance requirements may also apply depending on the railway infrastructure manager.

The available certificates and national approvals for each system can be found in the Certificates & Approvals section on this page.

Which Safetech Fence system should I choose: Mechanical or Magnetic?

The right Safetech Fence system depends on the track infrastructure, project requirements and applicable approvals in the country of use.

The Mechanical Safetech Fence is a cost-efficient and robust solution where a compatible rail fastening system is available.

The Magnetic Safetech Fence offers greater flexibility because it attaches directly to the web of the rail and is independent of the rail fastening and sleeper type.

Both systems provide the same function: a temporary physical barrier between railway workers and operational rail traffic. Availability and permitted use may vary by country depending on national approvals and infrastructure manager requirements.

Which European rail profiles is the Safetech Fence compatible with?

The Safetech Fence is compatible with a wide range of European Vignole (flat-bottom) rail profiles from 46 kg/m and above, including:

46E1 · 46E2 · 46E3 · 46E4 · 49E1 · 49E2 · 49E5 · 50E1 · 50E2 · 50E3 · 50E4 · 50E5 · 50E6 · 52E1 · 54E1 · 54E2 · 54E3 · 54E4 · 54E5 · 55E1 · 56E1 · 60E1 · 60E2

RSC has physically tested the fencing on a representative selection of these profiles, including 46E3 (NP46), 49E1 (S49), 50E6 (U50), 54E1 (UIC54), 54E3 (S54) and 60E1 (UIC60). The system has also been tested on international rail profiles including AS60, AS68 and 136RE (TR68).

Other rail profiles can be assessed on request.

What colours are available for the Safetech Fence beams?

Safetech Fence GFRP beams are available in several high-visibility colour configurations: Blue, Red/White Alternating Beams, and Red/White 45° Diagonal Stripes.

The colour configuration can be selected according to country-specific requirements, infrastructure manager specifications and project requirements.