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There were more than 500 recorded incidents of railway crime involving young people last year in the South West. Whilst overall railway crimes has dropped by about 15% from 2007 - 2008, figure shows that many young people are still putting their lives at risk.

A series of improvement work will be carried out on the Barnstaple to Exeter St Davids route from 23 – 27 March and 30 March – 3 April.

Network Rail is stepping up its efforts to stamp out level crossing misuse at Beards Lane and Downfield, where a recent survey recorded nearly 100 incidents of misuse over a short period of two days. About 90% of the incidents reported involved young people.

Reading FC’s captain Graeme Murty has united with Network Rail to kick off this February’s half term message – mess around on the railway and risk your life.

The public has been invited to have their say on Network Rail’s proposals to beat railway crime at one of West Country’s top ten rail crime hotspots.

The Cotswold redoubling scheme, which will bring new tracks between Evesham and Charlbury, has entered the final stages of design, moving a step closer to delivering work on the ground.