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Monday 12 Jul 2021

New safety warning as a third of adults in Anglia say they would risk all by stepping onto the railway track to retrieve their mobile phone

Region & Route:

Eastern: Anglia

• Mobile phone and purse or wallet were among the other personal items adults in the Anglia region would retrieve from the track
• Yet 98% of adults understand that stepping onto the tracks carries risk of serious injury or death and 90% understand it’s a criminal offence
• Seven-time Paralympian Simon Munn, MBE, joins Network Rail and British Transport Police to launch new safety film – Shattered Lives – highlighting the devastating consequences of adult trespass

Shocking new survey¹ results have revealed that a third of adults in Anglia are prepared to risk life and limb to retrieve an everyday object (mobile phone 31% / purse or wallet 34%, keys 29%) from the track despite being fully aware of the dangers.

Network Rail and British Transport Police today launched a new campaign - ‘shattered lives’ - warning about the life-changing dangers on, and  around the railway where making the wrong choice could so easily lead to devastating consequences for them, their friends and family.

Richard Tew, Network Rail’s head of safety for Anglia, said: “I understand the initial panic when you drop something on the tracks, but no matter how important you think the object is, it’s not worth risking your life for.

“Every time someone strays onto the tracks they are placing themselves at risk of serious, life-changing injury or worse. The effects can be devastating, not only for them, but their loved ones and the wider community. We want everyone to know and understand that stepping on the track shatters lives.”

 

 

Every year sees thousands of trespass incidents across the rail network. Though often seen as a youth problem, the vast majority of trespassers across the country – 75% – are adults. Their reasons for straying onto the network include taking shortcuts and retrieving dropped items from the track.  In the last three years, more than 150 adults² have either been seriously injured or lost their lives as a result of trespassing on Britain’s rail network.

Superintendent Alison Evans, British Transport said: “Unfortunately, every summer we see a rise in trespass incidents. This summer, please remember that stepping onto the railway at any time is dangerous and illegal. Accessing the tracks as a shortcut or to retrieve a personal possession you’ve dropped will have consequences that stay with you and those around you for life. Don’t let a moment of impatience ruin everything – it’s just not worth it.”

Seven-time Paralympian, Simon Munn, MBE, has teamed up with Network Rail and British Transport Police to help launch a new anti-trespass film – Shattered Lives – aimed at adults. Part of Network Rail and British Transport Police’s You vs Train campaign, the film depicts the shattering consequences that trespassing can have on families.

Simon lost his leg in a railway accident after attempting to take a shortcut home by trespassing across the railway. While he has been able to rebuild his life as a successful athlete – representing Great Britain in wheelchair basketball – Simon counts himself very lucky to be alive following the events that night more than thirty years ago.     

Simon Munn comments: “If you’re thinking about taking a shortcut home by trespassing across the tracks like I did, then there’s only one winner. You can’t mess about with a 400-tonne machine and think that you can get away with it. I was very lucky that I only came away with losing my leg. I’m incredibly proud of my career as a Paralympian, but that night 31 years-ago was a massive reality check. The outcome of my actions irreversibly changed my life and I regret the pain that I put my family through and the driver of the train.”

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