Media centre

Thursday 23 Apr 2020

Network Rail urges people in the North East to stay away from the tracks as 22 railway trespass incidents are recorded in the region since lockdown

Region & Route:

Eastern

Network Rail is warning people in the North East about the dangers of trespassing on the railway, as 22 incidents have been recorded in the region since the Government asked people to stay at home on Monday, 23 March.

Trespassers have been spotted on lines across the region, including in Newcastle, Darlington and Durham:

• Three people trespassing close to the tracks, one believed to be around 6 years old.
• Four youths trespassing on the railway.
• Children on a railway gantry.
• Youth ran across the tracks to another platform.
• Young adult using the railway as a shortcut.

Trespassing is illegal, extremely dangerous and can have fatal or life changing consequences. Railway lines are used 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Trains travel at high speeds and cannot stop quickly or swerve out of the way.

As well as other hidden dangers on the tracks, a deadly 25,000 volts run through the overhead wires, which are used to power some trains. This equipment is always on, even when there are no trains around. Nine out of ten people who come into contact with the overhead cables die, and the remainder suffer life-changing injuries.

Almost half of the trespass incidents recorded since lockdown in the North East involve children or young people. Network Rail’s team of community safety managers visit schools across the region and engage with communities to raise awareness of the dangers of trespassing, but in the current situation many events have been cancelled. People can find out more about the dangers of trespassing using the following resources:

• Resources for adults -  https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/safety-in-the-community/railway-safety-campaigns/trespass-campaigns
• Resources for teenagers - Network Rail and British Transport Police run a hard-hitting safety campaign, You Vs Train, which highlights the devasting consequences of trespassing on the railway -  http://www.youvstrain.co.uk/. 
• Resources for primary school children - https://www.networkrail.co.uk/stories/educational-resources-for-children.

Dawn Sweeting, Community Safety Manager for Network Rail, said: “These trespass incidents in the North East are shocking, and show many people are oblivious to the dangers they are putting themselves, their friends or their loved ones in.

“It’s never safe to hang around on the railway or use it to take shortcuts, but sadly too many people ignore the warning signs and take risks that have resulted in tragic consequences.

“We’ve seen a worrying number of incidents at a time when people should be following Government guidelines and staying at home where possible. We are urging people to stay safe and stay off the tracks.”

Superintendent Alison Evans, British Transport Police, said: “Your safety is our number one priority, and we are continuing to proactively patrol the thousands of miles of railway across the country.

“The railway is an extremely hazardous place, and trespass incidents like these can quite easily lead to death or catastrophic injuries. 

"I’d urge parents and carers who live in the area to check where their children are playing and speak to them about the risks of the railway, so they understand that everyone loses when they step on the track.”

ENDS