Nordstrand Station.

Insulating GRP fencing at Nordstrand Station, Norway.

There are many things that need to work along a railroad. Trains must run, electricity must flow, and people must be able to move safely in the vicinity. But ideally, these three elements shouldn’t come too close to one another. At Nordstrand Station in Norway, they have therefore installed a fence that both keeps unauthorized people out and keeps the electricity in check.

Garda Sikring AS has installed a fence made of glass-fiber-reinforced plastic (GRP)—a material that not only creates a physical barrier to the track area but also has a particularly important property in electrified railway environments: it is electrically insulating.

One fence—multiple purposes.

Railway environments place extremely high demands on safety. Here, high-voltage installations, passing trains, technical equipment, personnel, and sometimes residential areas and walkways are all located right next to the tracks. A fence therefore needs to do more than just mark where the railway area begins: First and foremost, it must keep unauthorized persons off the tracks, of course. It’s also important that it protects train traffic, the flow of trains, and the surrounding areas. Furthermore, it’s crucial that the fence functions effectively in an environment where electrical safety is a key consideration.

That’s why—fiberglass! Unlike traditional metal fences, fiberglass-reinforced plastic is an electrically insulating material. It does not conduct electricity in the same way as steel and can therefore be a particularly suitable option near electrified tracks and technical installations. This is a rather significant difference when you want to ensure that electricity stays where it belongs.

60 meters of safety in fiberglass.

For the project at Nordstrand Station, Garda Sikring AS chose a modern and innovative alternative to traditional metal fencing. A well-considered choice of material that prioritizes electrical safety, durability, and minimal maintenance.

Safestep supplied a total of 60 meters of GRP fencing with accompanying posts and fasteners. The fence is approximately two meters high and constructed of 25 mm thick fiberglass panels with an open mesh structure measuring 100×60 mm. The design creates a clear physical boundary without obstructing the view of the track area, while the gray color blends into the surrounding railway environment.

In other words, it’s not a particularly eye-catching structure. And that’s kind of the point.