Media centre

Thursday 22 Dec 2005

TEENAGE DEATHS HIGHLIGHT RAILWAY DANGER

Region & Route:

National

“KEEP OFF THE TRACKS THIS CHRISTMAS” WARNS NETWORK RAIL With the deaths of two children on the railway in the past week, and Christmas ruined for two families, Network Rail has issued a stark reminder of the fatal cost of playing or trespassing on the tracks. Iain Coucher, Network Rail’s Deputy Chief Executive, said: “Each death represents a tragic story of not heeding the warnings that the railway is not a place to hang around, use as a short-cut or play on. We want to hammer home the railway safety message this Christmas and prevent any more families suffering this kind of heartbreak.” Last night (21 December) a 17 year old boy was killed near Hanwell station when he was struck by a Heathrow Express train travelling from the airport to Paddington.  He is believed to have been with a group of young people who had been on the tracks spraying graffiti. This follows the tragic death of 14 year old Toni Hannant of County Durham, who was killed on 16 December when she was struck by a train on the line between Middlesbrough and Newcastle.  Toni’s parents, who have been praised for their bravery, took part in a press conference on Tuesday this week warning other children and their parents of the dangers of playing on the tracks. Toni was with a group of friends who were going to a den on the same side of the line as they gained access.  Toni and two other girls were heading back when Toni was hit.  They got onto the line through palisade fencing, which had been damaged.  Someone had removed bolts at the bottom of some palings to gain access.  The police have said it is likely that this was an adult, as they would have needed to use tools to remove the bolts. There are an estimated 27 million cases of trespass on Britain’s railways every year, including 640,000 objects placed on the tracks and four million objects thrown at trains.  Young people commit many of these crimes; and with the Christmas holidays upon us, the company is spreading the message that such actions can cause injury and death – not only to themselves but to others too. Iain Coucher added: “The railway is dangerous place.  You wouldn’t use a motorway as a short cut or a place to hang out – so why the railway?”