The Challenge
We were commissioned to capture Porterbrook’s Project Aurora, a major programme to modernise the Electrostar train fleet used across the Southern, Gatwick Express, Great Northern and Southeastern networks.
The £100 million programme upgrades hundreds of carriages to improve reliability, passenger information systems and onboard facilities.
Our goal was to document both the engineering work behind the programme and the official launch event delivered in partnership with Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR). This meant filming inside the depot environment while also capturing the public launch of the upgraded trains.
The Approach
We used a two-camera setup with the Canon R5 and Canon R6 to capture the project from multiple perspectives.
Inside the depot, we filmed behind-the-scenes construction and upgrade work taking place on the trains. This gave viewers a closer look at the engineering work driving Project Aurora.
We also captured the launch event, including presentations, stakeholder activity and the unveiling of the upgraded trains. Interviews with key project stakeholders helped explain the purpose and impact of the programme.
Ground footage was captured using a tripod and DJI RS3 gimbal, creating a mix of stable and dynamic shots throughout the production.
The Result
The final film combines engineering footage, stakeholder interviews and launch event coverage to tell the story of Project Aurora.
The content highlights the work taking place behind the scenes while showcasing the collaboration between Porterbrook and GTR. It provides a clear visual record of the programme and the scale of the fleet modernisation.