Media centre

Monday 15 May 2006

REWARD OFFERED FOR CABLE THEFT INFO

Region & Route:

Network Rail has offered rewards of up to £1,000 for information leading to the successful prosecution of criminals who have deliberately targeted railway signalling cables in the Carlisle and Warrington areas recently. In the latest incident, discovered at approximately 4.30am on Friday 12 May, someone used what is thought to be disc-cutters, to attempt to steal signalling cable in the Caldew area of Carlisle. As a result, train services through Citadel station were brought to a standstill until nearly 8am by which time Network Rail had got a temporary method of signalling set up to enable passengers to start or continue their journeys. Gary Openshaw, Network Rail’s area general manager, has offered the rewards to help British Transport Police in their efforts to catch the criminals. He said: “Theft of railway cable may seem a low-level crime,  but the effects are high-level in terms of the disruption caused to people’s daily lives. At one point on Friday there were no trains in or out of Carlisle.  When trains did get on the move again, they were still heavily delayed, and t was mid-morning before things were back to normal. “We want to stop this happening.  That is why we are offering these rewards.  We urge anyone with any information about these crimes to contact the British Transport Police.” British Transport Police (BTP) is leading the investigation into the incident and had scene of crime officers at the site to gather evidence. Only when their examination of the area was complete was Network Rail staff able to get on with the job of replacing the damaged cable. In the meantime, train operators laid on alternative transport to get passengers to their destinations. Similar, separate incidents have also occurred in the Warrington area and BTP have already appealed for witnesses to actual cable thefts earlier in the month. Anyone who has information about ether the Carlisle or Warrington incidents is asked to contact the British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 (where information may be given anonymously).