Media centre

Tuesday 16 Mar 2021

Looming lockdown lift sparks youth rail safety warning across Anglia

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

New data reveals shocking 38% increase in youth trespass incidents in the Anglia region after public emerged from first national lockdown.

• Shocking stats¹ reveal that the lifting of lockdown in July 2020 prompted a surge in the number of trespass incidents across the rail network.
• Network Rail and British Transport Police urge parents to discuss rail safety with their children before British Summer Time starts.
• New safety film – Parallel Lines- will be broadcast into schools on 18 March by Network Rail’s education partner LearnLive.

Network Rail and British Transport Police are urging parents to talk to their teenagers about rail safety and the devastating potential impact of trespass to them, their friends and family, and the wider community ahead of the Easter school holiday and the easing of lockdown restrictions.

The calls come as newly released data reveals there was a surge in reckless behaviour on the rail network when the nation emerged from the lockdown last summer, which continued right through to the end of year. Alarmingly the numbers increased most sharply in the under 18s age group, with a 38% increase in the number of incidents recorded between July and December 2020, compared with the same period in 2019. In August, youth trespass incidents almost doubled on the previous year.

Ellie Burrows, Network Rail's route director for Anglia, said: “I am really concerned that young people risked their lives on the railway when lockdown ended last year and I really don't want to see a repeat of that this year. Stepping on to the tracks doesn't just pose a risk to that person, but causes pain and suffering for families, friends and communities. It just isn't worth it, please stay off the tracks.” 

Superintendent Alison Evans, British Transport Police, added: “We often warn families at this time of year as the evenings get lighter and children prepare to enjoy school holidays. However, this year our concerns are more acute, especially as we are not able to get into schools ourselves to pass this message onto children directly. Trespassing on the railway can have serious, life-changing consequences for the individual, their loved ones and the wider community. Please, make sure you know the rail safety basics and pass that knowledge onto your loved ones. Lead by example and stay off the tracks.”

Trespass is a cause of serious concern for Network Rail, which is why the You vs Train campaign was created in partnership with British Transport Police in summer 2018. Primarily concentrating on young people, the number of incidents across the railway had been significantly decreasing year on year since the campaign’s introduction.

To help combat the expected seasonal climb in trespass, a new You vs Train film – Parallel Lines- has been launched to get children to not only think about the devasting consequences that their actions can have on them and their loved ones, but the wider, sometimes hidden harm caused to the community, in particular rail staff. The new film will be streamed into schools on 18 March as part of a rail safety broadcast by Network Rail’s education partner - LearnLive. Further information, including how to sign up for the broadcast, can be found on the LearnLive website.

Information on the dangers of railway trespass and the new campaign film can be found on the You vs Train website.