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Friday 23 May 2008

RAIL DANGER WARNING TO YOUNG PEOPLE IN SOUTH WEST LONDON

Region & Route:

| Southern: Wessex

| Southern

Network Rail’s rail safety campaign No Messin’ has today issued a reminder to young people in South West London not to risk their lives or the lives of others by trespassing or mucking about on the railway during the half term school holidays.

Every year dozens of people are killed or seriously injured on the railway by taking shortcuts or even using the railway as a guide home. On lines from London Waterloo to stations in South West London, No Messin’ has identified the area around Ewell West, Worcester Park and Tolworth as a hotspot, with dozens of incidents of trespass and vandalism recorded in 2007. The lines between New Malden and Surbiton also saw significant numbers of incidents take place. It is impossible to capture every incident, and the true number is estimated to be much higher.

Recorded incidents of trespass and vandalism in South West London include:

• Objects thrown at trains, including stones, bottles and bricks, which in some cases have led to train windows being smashed
• Playing on the railway, including a game of football taking place on the tracks
• Running alongside tracks or across lines
• Surfing trains
• Graffiti

Nationally, in the last five years one in four accidental fatalities was of someone aged eight to 18 with half of all near misses involved children. Those trespassing by taking short cuts or even crossing from one platform to the other are risking their lives.

Martin Gallagher, Network Rail’s National Rail Crime Education Manager said:

"Sadly the combination of good weather and school holidays always results in an increase of trespass and vandalism on the railways by young people.

"What they must realise is that their actions are not only illegal but could prove fatal. As well as the danger of being hit by a train, the network in South West London is powered by a ‘third rail’ that carries approximately 750 volts of electricity and is live 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“We all remember feeling young and invincible but the danger posed to trespassers on the railway is a real one. At Network Rail we do all we can to prevent incidents - from improving fencing to having a team of rail crime education managers who work with the community to raise awareness.”

www.no-messin.com