Media centre

Tuesday 20 Dec 2005

GETTING TOUGH ON VANDALISM

Region & Route:

| Southern

The safety of people in Lingfield is being jeopardised by targeted acts of trespass and vandalism on the railway, Network Rail has warned. In the past month, rail maintenance workers have had to replace whistleboards adjacent to Lingfield footpath crossing approximately 10 times after they were deliberately removed by vandals. Andrew Munden, Network Rail Route Director, says: “Whistleboards are designed to save lives.  They are a safety measure to alert railway workers and members of the public that a train is approaching. “We have received some complaints about train horn noise from people who live near the two whistleboards at Lingfield crossing and have arranged a risk assessment to see if they can be removed or their position adjusted. In the meantime, these boards must not be moved. We will not tolerate acts of vandalism that compromise safety and we will work with British Transport Police to prosecute those responsible.” Mr Ken Rimington, a Surrey County Councillor, says: “I am extremely concerned by reports of such vandalism, and would urge those responsible to co-operate with Network Rail instead of taking matters into their own hands like this. “During the Christmas period, we will have many visitors to the area who are unfamiliar with the crossing and who will rely on these crucial safety measures. I understand the annoyance horns can cause to local residents and I am working with Network Rail to see if anything can be done about the whistleboards, which are there to save lives.” Standards for the use of whistleboards, such as: the requirements for their siting,  requirements for train drivers in responding to whistleboards, and the minimum volume for train horns, are set by the Rail Safety and Standards Board, an organisation independent of any single railway company and of their commercial interests.