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Tuesday 29 Sep 2026

Rail industry crackdown as trespassing criminals cause more than 3,300 hours of delays for passengers in a year

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National

• Trespass crime including cable theft, vandalism, and obstruction caused nearly five months of delays to passengers and cost the industry over £10 million in delay costs in 2025/26
• Cable theft alone caused over 2,100 hours of delays and saw delay costs double to £6.8m in 2025/26 
• New crackdown campaign sees rail industry and British Transport Police working closer together than ever in tackling trespass and railway crime  
• New technology and better evidence gathering to bring more offenders to justice and reduce impact on passengers. 

New figures show trespass-related crimes including cable theft, vandalism and obstruction caused over 3,300 hours of delays for passengers – equivalent to nearly five months of waiting on trains or in stations – and cost the rail sector more than £10 million in delay costs during 2025/26.  

In response, the rail industry and British Transport Police (BTP) have today launched a new campaign to crack down on trespassers committing crime on the railway. 

Trespass is one of the railway’s biggest causes of disruption and can have a significant impact on train performance, passengers, freight, railway staff and local communities. It can also require a substantial industry response and come at a considerable financial cost. 

Network Rail, BTP, and the wider industry have been working together more closely than ever before, with the new levels of collaboration allowing for a deeper understanding and ability to tackle crime, identify offenders, and minimise the impact on the railway.  

Part of the enhanced collaboration will see improved evidence collection to strengthen prosecutions, as well a greater focus on victim impact statements to help demonstrate the impact of delays caused by railway crime. 

Cable theft alone caused more than 2,100 hours of delay in 2025/26 – an increase of 84% from the previous year – and cost the industry almost £6.8 million in delay costs in the same period, more than double (103%) the previous year.  

Thefts can cause potentially lengthy delays due to damage to signalling mechanisms and overhead wires, which impact the railway's ability to operate safely, affecting both passenger and freight services.  

Meanwhile, vandalism and offenders deliberately obstructing trains – including deliberately placing items such as debris and even other pieces of track on the railway – caused over 1,200 hours of delays and cost over £4 million in delay costs in 2025/26.  

Trespassers on the tracks at Motspur Park in southwest London  

The organisations have today launched the new 'Crime with Consequences' campaign to make sure potential offenders are aware they will face the full force of the law if they commit crimes on the railway – including severe fines or even prison sentences.  

Network Rail has introduced a number of initiatives to help tackle cable theft and other crimes on its network, including the use of hidden 'trespass beads' in its cables in the North West to track down offenders, and additional funding for more patrols on the East Coast Main Line.  

Across the network, drones, sensors and smart CCTV are all helping Network Rail and the BTP identify and catch offenders faster and more consistently.  

Anit Chandarana, Director for System Operator at Network Rail, said:  

"Behind every one of these delays caused by railway crime is someone not being able to get home to their family, another person late to a job interview, or food stuck on its way to a supermarket shelf. Cable theft, vandalism and obstruction aren't victimless crimes, they're crimes against the millions of people who rely on the rail network every day. 

"The rail industry is working more closely than ever with the British Transport Police, using new technology, from concealed tracking devices to smart CCTV, to detect offences more quickly and support investigations. This campaign is a clear warning that anyone who commits crime on the railway risks facing serious consequences for their actions." 

Superintendent Darren Malpas, of British Transport Police, said: 

"Cable theft and associated railway crimes like trespass aren’t victimless offences. They put lives at risk, cause significant disruption to passengers and freight services, and cost the rail industry millions of pounds every year, which ultimately ends up costing the public more.  

“This important campaign highlights both the dangers and consequences of criminal activity on the rail network. Those involved must understand that railway infrastructure is extremely dangerous. Anyone trespassing on the railway or attempting to steal cable risks serious injury or death. Through closer collaboration, improved intelligence, new technology and stronger evidence gathering, we’re working tirelessly to identify offenders, bring them to justice and protect the communities and passengers who rely on the railway every day." 

Rail Minister, Lord Peter Hendy, said: 

"Trespassing causes delay and frustration for thousands of passengers every year and stops people going about their daily lives. Anyone doing this on the railway is also putting themselves at serious risk of injury or death. 

"It is great to see the rail industry come together with British Transport Police to make it absolutely clear that trespassing on the railway is a criminal offence. Make no mistake, offenders will be brought to justice quickly, helping to reduce disruption across the network and keep passengers moving.” 

The campaign forms part of the wider rail industry's efforts to reduce trespass and rail crime and is part of the existing No Second Chances safety programme.