Media centre

Thursday 22 May 2008

BANK HOLIDAY RAIL DANGER WARNING TO BUCKS TEENS

Region & Route:

| Southern: Wessex

| Southern

Network Rail’s rail safety campaign No Messin’ has today urged young people in the Buckinghamshire area not to risk their lives or the lives of others by trespassing or mucking about on the railway during the half term school holidays.

Every year dozens of people are killed or seriously injured on the railway by taking shortcuts or even using the railway as a guide home. No Messin’ has identified High Wycombe and Aylesbury as rail crime hotspots in the Buckinghamshire area, with dozens of incidents of trespass and vandalism recorded in 2007. With hundreds of miles of track it is impossible to capture every incident, and the true number is estimated to be much higher, running into the 1000s each year.

Recorded incidents of trespass and vandalism in the Bucks area include:

• Kids placing objects on the line to obstruct trains including stones, furniture and a wheelie bin
• Throwing objects at trains
• Starting fires
• Running alongside tracks or across lines

In the last five years one in four accidental fatalities was of someone aged eight to 18 with half of all near misses involved children. Those trespassing by taking short cuts or even crossing from one platform to the other are risking their lives.

Martin Gallagher, Network Rail's National Rail Crime Education Manager said: "During the summer and school holidays we always see an increase in rail crime with the light evenings and kids looking for something to fill their free time.

"The railway though is a dangerous place and those trespassing or taking short cuts across it are putting their lives at risk. It can take the length of 20 football pitches for a fast train to stop and if you get hit by a train, there is only one winner. Our campaign tries to make people think twice about what they’re doing and hopefully save lives."

The No Messin’ campaign also has the support of Wycombe Wanders Football Club, where together they have special rail safety days to raise awareness of the dangers of railway.

Dave McCracken, WWFC club captain commented: “Both boys and girls need role models and especially with boys, football players are seen as positive ones. If we as players for Wycombe Wanderers FC can help spread the word of the No Messin’ campaign and help save lives, or reduce vandalism on or near the railway lines then we as a club have given something back to the local community”.

Network Rail has a team of dedicated Railway Crime Education Managers working closely with other parts of the railway industry, offering railway safety information and visiting schools, young offending teams, youth clubs and local authorities throughout the UK.

www.no-messin.com