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Tuesday 24 Oct 2006

SAFETY FENCE INSTALLED AT THURNSCOE

Region & Route:

Rail passengers in South Yorkshire are set to benefit from a more reliable service thanks to a £3,000 investment by Network Rail to install new metal fencing at a notorious vandalism black spot. Fencing was already in place at Thurnscoe on the Swinton to Milford line because of the steep embankment which leads directly onto the 80mph stretch of track.  But, panels of the original fence were repeatedly stolen and there were regular reports of young people setting light to cars on grassland next to the embankment and pushing them through gaps in the fence and onto the railway.  This led to delays in rail services as trains had to travel slowly and cautiously through the area until the vehicles were removed. Network Rail has installed strong metal palisade fencing which prevents cars being driven off the road and onto the waste land. Network Rail Maintenance Director, Andrew Hinton, said: "We have invested in this new fencing in Thurnscoe to keep vandals away from the railway, so that passengers have a reliable train service and local people no longer suffer such disturbance.  We urge anyone who sees any act of vandalism in this area to report it to crimestoppers or the British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40."