Media centre

Friday 27 Jun 2008

STARK WARNING FOR WALES RAILWAY PRANKSTERS

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

Network Rail has today warned young people in Wales to stop risking their lives on the railway. The warning comes ahead of the school summer holidays when rail crime peaks. It has also unveiled figures that hit home the grim fact that many young people are betting their lives and others’ just for a bit of fun on the railway.

Almost 1000 incidents of railway crime were reported in Wales last year with half of these committed by young people. There were around 400 incidents of trespass and vandalism - the top two most common offences. As it is impossible to record every incident, the true number is estimated to be much higher.

Nationally, in the last five years one in four accidental fatalities was of someone aged eight to 18 with half of all near-misses involving children.

These incidents had cost the industry nearly £2million and resulted in nearly 50,000 minutes of delay to train services last year. South Wales is most affected by rail crimes, Cardiff, Bridgend and Swansea being the top three towns with the highest number of incidents reported.

Recorded incidents in Wales include:

- Pranks include, wheelie bins, stones and metal bars being thrown at trains and placed on the tracks

- Trespassing incidents include, riding bicycles on the line and hiding beneath a platform

- Graffiti and setting fire to objects on the track

Mark Langman, Area General Manager, Network Rail said: "Sadly the combination of good weather and school holidays always results in an increase of trespass and vandalism on the railways by young people. Their actions are not only illegal but could prove fatal. We all remember feeling young and invincible but the danger posed to trespassers on the railway is a real one.

“At Network Rail we do all we can to prevent incidents - improving fencing, surveillance, closing crossings and even having a team of rail crime education managers, who work with the community to raise awareness.

“I would ask that parents remind their children of the dangers they could be placing themselves in and that the railway is not a playground."

Besides working with the train operators and the British Transport Police to stamp out rail crimes, Network Rail has a team of dedicated Railway Crime Education Managers who work with the community, offering railway safety information and visiting schools, youth offending teams and youth clubs in Wales.

Notes to Editors:

Top 10 hotspots in Wales -

1. Gowerton

2. Pyle

3. Llanelli

4. Pontypridd

5. Ton Pentre

6. Cogan

7. Penrhiwceiber

8. East Usk Junction

9. Pengam

10. Porth