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Friday 31 Dec 2021

Graffiti hit squad cleans up Birmingham grot spots

Region & Route:

North West & Central

| North West & Central: Central

Network Rail's graffiti hit squad has been cleaning up Birmingham city centre over the Christmas break.

The team worked through the holidays to clean known grot spots during the annual pause on train services.

This is part of a £700,000 effort by Network Rail and West Midlands Rail Executive which has been under way for 12 months now.

Starting south of the city centre around Five Ways and University stations on Christmas Day, the team worked up to Birmingham Moor Street and Curzon Street on Boxing Day.

Graffiti can give the impression of an uncared-for environment as well as making people feel unsafe.

This vital clean-up aims to make the railway and surrounding areas more appealing and welcoming for passengers and neighbours.

It also aims to make the rail network look its best ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Allun Edge, maintenance protection coordinator at Network Rail, said: “The railway is a regular target for graffiti but we are determined to tackle it and give the best impression to passengers, local communities and the worldwide audience watching us during the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

“Removing graffiti is an ongoing battle and we know the majority of people hate it as much as we do. Trespassing on the railway to do it can also have fatal consequences and it’s simply not worth risking your life to spray a wall with a tag.”

Graffiti is not only an eyesore, it is a criminal offence while trespassing on the railway is punishable by fine of up to £1,000.

To report graffiti or vandalism, contact Network Rail’s 24-hour national helpline on: 03457 11 41 41.