Why Lighting Controls Matter: Transport and Infrastructure

Driving Innovation in Transport and Infrastructure.

Transport and infrastructure projects are some of the most complex and demanding environments for lighting design. From railway stations and tunnels to airports, ports, and highways, these spaces require continuous, reliable illumination to keep passengers and operators safe. But lighting in this sector is more than just functionality—it needs to deliver energy efficiency, operational flexibility, and compliance with strict safety standards.

Lighting controls play a critical role in achieving these goals. They allow large-scale installations to reduce energy consumption, automate processes, and integrate with wider systems for smart, connected infrastructure. At Luceco Lighting, we support these requirements with Luceco Wired Controls for robust, fixed installations and Luceco Platform Wireless Controls for projects demanding flexibility and scalability.

Challenges in the Transport and Infrastructure Lighting.

Lighting for transport and infrastructure presents a different set of challenges compared to commercial or industrial spaces. Here’s why:

24/7 Operation - Airports, rail stations, and highways operate around the clock, demanding reliable and energy-efficient lighting solutions.

Complex Layouts - From tunnels to concourses, these environments span vast areas and require multiple lighting zones to function cohesively.

Harsh Conditions - Exterior lighting for roads, bridges, and ports must withstand weather extremes, while underground spaces face humidity and restricted ventilation.

Safety and Compliance - Transport lighting must adhere to strict standards for emergency lighting, evacuation routes, and glare control to protect passengers and staff.

Maintenance Challenges - Accessing fixtures in high ceilings, tunnels, or live environments adds significant time and cost to maintenance schedules.

Lighting controls help address these challenges by providing flexibility and automation, reducing manual intervention, and offering remote management capabilities.

Unique Lighting Conditions in the Transport Sector.

No two transport projects are the same, but they share some unique characteristics that impact lighting design and controls:

Mixed Environments - Lighting strategies must cover both internal spaces (stations, concourses) and external areas (roads, bridges).

Long, Linear Spaces - Tunnels and platforms require continuous illumination without dark spots, making control zoning essential.

High Ceilings and Restricted Access - Maintenance is difficult and costly—remote diagnostics via lighting controls is invaluable.

Driver and Passenger Safety - Glare control is critical to prevent accidents in tunnels or on highways.

These conditions make intelligent controls essential for managing complexity, ensuring safety, and delivering cost savings over the lifecycle of the installation.

Benefits of Lighting Controls.

Lighting controls provide tangible benefits that go beyond basic switching. Here are some of the key advantages:

Energy Savings

• Daylight Harvesting: External lighting can automatically dim when natural light is sufficient.
• Occupancy Detection: Areas such as staff corridors, back-of-house, and maintenance zones can remain off until needed.
• Scheduling: Lights can run at reduced output during low-traffic periods, cutting unnecessary energy usage.

Operational Cost Reduction

• Automated systems minimise the need for manual intervention.
• Lower maintenance costs thanks to early fault alerts and status monitoring.

Improved Safety and Compliance

• Critical zones can have override functions for emergencies.
• Emergency lighting tests can be automated and logged, reducing compliance headaches.

Luceco Advantage

• Luceco Wired Controls deliver reliable performance for large, fixed installations such as tunnels and major stations.
• Luceco Platform Wireless Controls offer flexibility and scalability, perfect for phased upgrades or sites where cabling is a challenge.

Data, Analytics, and Predictive Maintenance

Data-driven lighting management is a game-changer in transport:

• Remote Diagnostics - Identify faults without dispatching engineers.
• Energy Auditing - Understand where energy is being used and find opportunities for further savings.
• Predictive Analytics - Plan maintenance around real usage rather than fixed schedules, reducing unnecessary costs.

Lighting Controls and Safety in Transport Networks.

Passenger safety is non-negotiable in transport environments. Lighting controls play a vital role in:

• Emergency Overrides: Immediate activation of all lighting during critical incidents.
• Safe Evacuation: Ensuring escape routes are illuminated during power failures.
• Compliance: Meeting the strict requirements of BS 5266 for emergency lighting and evacuation.

Control systems provide real-time status reporting, helping operators act quickly in emergencies and maintain full compliance with safety regulations.

Emergency Lighting and Compliance.

Emergency lighting is critical in environments where large numbers of people rely on safe navigation:

Automated Testing - Lighting controls can schedule and log emergency light tests, ensuring compliance without manual checks.

Fail-Safe Design - In the event of network failure, emergency lights remain functional, safeguarding passengers and staff.

Regulatory Compliance - Systems should meet or exceed BS 5266 and CIBSE guidelines to ensure legal and operational integrity.

Sustainability and Net Zero Goals.

The UK Government’s Net Zero Strategy places transport decarbonisation at the heart of national sustainability goals. Lighting controls directly support these objectives by:

• Cutting energy consumption through automation and smart zoning.
• Enabling integration with renewable energy sources and IoT platforms.
• Supporting compliance with BREEAM, CIBSE LG, and WELL Building Standard for energy credits.

By reducing wasted energy, lighting controls help operators meet sustainability commitments while lowering costs, a win for both the environment and the bottom line.

Future Trends: Smarter Transport Lighting.

The future of transport lighting is connected, data-driven, and increasingly autonomous:

• Wireless Mesh Networks: These enable scalable control systems, reducing the need for costly cabling.
• Predictive Maintenance: Using analytics to forecast failures before they occur, reducing downtime.
• Smart City Integration: Lighting systems will integrate with traffic management, security, and energy networks for truly intelligent infrastructure.

Lighting controls are transforming the transport and infrastructure sector. They deliver the energy efficiency, safety compliance, and future-readiness that modern networks demand—while supporting the UK’s sustainability goals. Whether it’s Luceco Wired Controls for robust installations or Luceco Platform Wireless Controls for scalable, flexible solutions, intelligent lighting is a key component in creating smarter, safer transport environments.