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Tuesday 23 Sep 2003

REWARD FOR WIDNES BRICK THROWING INFO

Region & Route:

Network Rail is offering a £500 reward for information leading to the successful prosecution of a youth who threw a brick at a train passing through Widnes station yesterday (22 September). The brick shattered a window on the far side of the driver’s cabin on a Scarborough to Liverpool Lime Street train.  The incident, which happened at 15:45 hours and involved a youth in school uniform, could have had serious consequences.  Fortunately, the driver of the Arriva Trains Northern train was not injured and was able to continue the service avoiding delays to passengers. Crime such as this on the railway is a problem for Network Rail, train operators and the British Transport Police (BTP) and something that will not be tolerated.  The BTP are appealing to anyone who has any information about the incident to come forward.              Tim Clarke, North West regional director for Network Rail said: “We are constantly warning children that the railway is not a playground.  Passengers and railway staff have the right to be protected.  This could have been very serious and innocent people could have been hurt.  I would urge anyone who knows anything at all to come forward and help us catch the criminal that did this.” - more -             Widnes – 2 Ray Price, Arriva Trains Northern’s managing director, added:  “This was a totally irresponsible act of vandalism.  Network Rail, BTP and Arriva are working together to ensure that the person behind this mindless act is apprehended and prosecuted.”             Anyone with information should contact the British Transport Police on 0800 405040 or alternatively call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. Both calls are free and callers to Crimestoppers can leave information anonymously if they wish to.