Photograph released to highlight crime on railway tracks

Jul 16 2010 The Journal

THIS shocking photograph of a youth balancing between overhead railway lines in Sunderland was released yesterday to highlight the problem of crime on the tracks.

There were more than 3,000 cases of vandalism and trespass on the railways nationally last year, Network Rail (NR) said yesterday. Prams, dustbins and shopping trolleys were among objects left on rail lines, NR added.

Cases have included young people taking short cuts, spraying graffiti, playing chicken with trains or placing objects on the tracks. Based on incidents from April 2009 to March 2010, 49 people died after trespassing on the tracks, with about a quarter of these aged 11 to 20. The 2009-10 period also saw:

:: 1,162 incidents of stone throwing;

:: 60 reports of people playing chicken on the railways;

:: 83 incidents of graffiti;

:: 180 bikes and 76 shopping trolleys put on the tracks;

:: Other items left on tracks included 55 incidents involving traffic cones, seven prams, five dustbins, three TVs and even a bouncy castle.

There was a 32% reduction in reported crimes by young people in 2009-10, but NR and British Transport Police (BTP) both warned of the dangers of playing on the railways ahead of the school summer holidays.

NR operations and customer services director Robin Gisby said: “It’s good to see the number of incidents involving young people coming down, but far too many continue to risk their lives by taking a misguided short cut or worse, deliberately messing around on the tracks.

“Unlike cars, trains cannot swerve and can take the length of 20 football pitches to stop. Contact with electricity power lines and tracks can result in horrific injuries, burns or even death. We want to prevent such incidents and help young people find more rewarding and exciting ways to spend their free time.”

BTP Deputy Chief Constable Paul Crowther said: “Our message is simple: the railway is not a playground. Stay safe and stay out of trouble. Every year we see people risking their lives either by careless actions, such as taking a shortcut across the tracks, or by playing on or near the line.

“Anyone who messes around near the tracks is not only risking a court appearance, they are putting their lives at risk.”