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Friday 2 Oct 2026

Railway crime and vandalism causes 12 days of delays and £900,000 in costs

Region & Route:

North West & Central

| North West & Central: Central

New figures show 80 incidents of trespass crime in the West Midlands caused more than 12 days of delays for passengers and cost the railway almost £900,000 in 2025/26.

To tackle the issue, the rail industry and British Transport Police (BTP) have launched a ‘Crime with Consequences’ campaign to crack down on trespassers and reduce the impact crime and vandalism has on passengers and communities.

The incidents - cable theft, vandalism and deliberate obstruction - caused 17,552 minutes of delays, equivalent to more than 292 hours, and £887,878 in delay costs.

Seven cable theft incidents alone caused 11,256 delay minutes - more than 187 hours - and £547,805 in costs. A further 73 incidents of vandalism and deliberate obstruction - which includes deliberate damage to railway equipment and deliberately placing items such as debris and even other pieces of track on the railway - caused 6,296 delay minutes- almost 105 hours - and cost £340,073. 

Across the railway, a number of initiatives to help tackle cable theft and other crimes are in place including drones, sensors and smart CCTV which are all used to help Network Rail and the BTP identify and catch offenders.  

Nick Bond, route crime and security manager for Network Rail Central route, said “Railway crime is not victimless. Every delay can mean someone missing time with family, arriving late for a job interview, or vital freight failing to reach its destination. 

“By working more closely with British Transport Police and using technology such as tracking devices and smart CCTV, we can detect offences faster and support stronger investigations. Anyone committing crime on the railway should expect serious consequences.” 

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.