Thursday 3 Sep 2026
£110k committed to strengthen fight against cable theft and railway crime
- Region & Route:
- Eastern
- | Eastern: East Coast
A £110,000 investment is helping to tackle cable theft, vandalism and trespass on the East Coast Main Line through proactive security patrols.
The funding has been approved by the East Coast Partnership, a joint initiative between Network Rail and London North Eastern Railway (LNER).
It has enabled security company Vital to carry out targeted patrols at key locations along the route, which connects London King's Cross with Scotland via Peterborough, Doncaster, York, Darlington and Newcastle.
The patrols provide a visible deterrent to criminal activity and unauthorised access to the railway, while gathering intelligence that can help teams identify hotspot locations and direct resources where they are needed most.
By disrupting potential offenders before they strike, the initiative aims to reduce delays and disruption for passengers and freight operators, while supporting the safety of communities and everyone who uses the railway.
John Grainger, joint head of performance for Network Rail and LNER, said: “Cable theft, vandalism and trespass can have a significant impact on the railway, causing delays and cancellations for passengers and freight operators while putting lives at risk.
“This investment provides a real boost to our proactive approach to tackling criminal activity across the East Coast route by increasing patrols at key locations and providing greater visibility on the ground.
“These patrols form part of a wide range of measures used to tackle railway crime. We work closely with British Transport Police to prevent, detect and prosecute offenders through proactive patrols, the use of drones and security cameras at strategic locations, and the forensic marking of assets, which can support investigations.
“Together, these measures can help deter offenders, protect critical infrastructure and keep passengers moving safely and reliably.”
Chris Gostling, Vital account manager, trespass prevention & security, said: “We take great pride in supporting Network Rail and the rail industry when it comes to tackling cable theft on the network. We recognise the significant disruption, and safety risks these incidents can cause. We are committed to working alongside all railway partners to help protect a critical part of the railway infrastructure. Reducing the impact of cable theft will lead to a far safer and more reliable service.”
Read more about the fight against cable theft: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/rail-travel/delays-explained/vandalism-and-trespass/cable-theft.
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