Media centre

Monday 6 Jul 2009

SHOCK COFFIN POSTERS WARN LEEDS PASSENGERS - STAY OFF THE TRACKS OR RISK DEATH

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Leeds station has the worst record for trespass on the tracks of all of Network Rail's 18 managed stations. Now a poster campaign using coffin-shaped railway sleepers with RIP messages describing how trespassers met their fate is being used to drive home the safety message.

The posters which ask “what price your life?” aim to raise awareness of the very real dangers of trespassing on the railway. In 2008 there were 30 incidents of trespass on the lines in the Leeds station area. Many of those were committed by adults. Some people jumped off platforms onto the tracks to retrieve dropped items - including spectacles. Others realising they are on the wrong platform decided to run across the tracks instead of crossing safely via the footbridge. All risked serious injury or death.

Leeds station staff and transport police work tremendously hard to help thousands of people get home safely after a night out but this is when trespass issues at stations tend to increase. More than a third of trespass incidents at Leeds occurred at night or in the early hours of the morning.

Vicki Smith, community safety manager at Network Rail said: “Trespass and vandalism in Leeds is reducing but we cannot be complacent. That is why we’re launching this poster campaign to highlight the very real dangers of trespassing on the railway.

“We’re also seeing a lot of incidents happen at night, when maybe people’s judgements aren’t at their best. You wouldn’t step out in front of a speeding car to retrieve a mobile phone or a bag you’d dropped, so why jump onto the tracks as a train approaches? I think these posters make it crystal clear that you are risking your life by trespassing on the railway. We hope they'll help us to further reduce the number of incidents and ultimately save lives.”

Of the 30 incidents in the Leeds station area in 2008, 14 were people crossing between platforms on the tracks.

Wendy Smith knows the danger of trespass on the tracks only too well. Her son Ricky was just 15 when he was struck by a train at Halton Moor at Easter 1997. Wendy joined Vicki and Helen Dawson, Leeds station manager today to launch the new posters. Wendy said: “It’s always difficult talking about what happened but it needs to be done. If we can stop another child being killed and another family facing the heartache we are still going through, then it’s worth it. My message is really simple – no matter how bored you are or how much your mates are saying it’s ok do NOT go onto the railway tracks. Your life is more important than what your mates think.”

Last year there were around 9,000 reported incidents of trespass on Britain’s railway, although the true figure is thought to be much higher. Whilst the majority of incidents occur along the 20,000 miles of track between stations and at level crossings, platform to platform trespass at stations is a significant problem that train drivers, station staff and transport police have to deal with.

BTP Schools Liaison Officer Steve Wareing said: "During the holidays we traditionally see an increase in offences on the railway. Educational campaigns such as this will hopefully assist in building on the work already done and help reduce the number of incidents by highlighting the dangers and deter youngsters from messing about on the railway.

"With hard work and the support of our rail industry partners’ route crime offences are reducing. But we will never become complacent and I cannot emphasise strongly enough the dangers associated with this type of crime."