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Thursday 27 Jun 2013

Youngsters warned rail trespass could prove deadly mistake

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Network Rail and British Transport Police are warning youngsters to keep off the railway this summer following a number of worrying incidents involving child trespassers.

In the most recent incident, on Sunday evening (June 23), a 12-year-old boy had to be rushed to hospital after he was electrocuted while trespassing near Barnhill on the Springburn branch line in Glasgow.

Sunday’s accident was the second in a month, after a 15-year-old boy sustained serious burns after he also came into contact with overhead power cables near Coatbridge on Saturday, May 25.

Other worrying incidents include two primary-age children trespassing on the East Coast main line near Wallyford on the morning of Sunday, May 16, and up to15 youths on the line near Whifflet station on the evening of Friday, June 21.

Network Rail and BTP are today reminding youngsters that not only is it illegal to trespass on the tracks it can also seriously endanger their safety and the safety of those working for, and travelling on, the railway.

David Simpson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, said: “Trespassing is extremely dangerous and can have tragic consequences for those involved. Trains travelling at speed take a long time to stop and anyone struck by one is likely to be killed or very badly injured.

“There are 25,000 volts passing through overhead power lines – enough to kill. Trespassers don’t even need to touch the cables to be electrocuted as electricity can jump from the cables to nearby objects.

“We take trespass on our infrastructure extremely seriously and work closely with British Transport Police to educate the public on the dangers of misusing the railway and to stop those who are determined to trespass.

“Anyone who has concerns about specific locations where they know trespassers are gaining access to the railway can report them to our national helpline 24-hours-a-day on 08457 114141.”

Chief Superintendent Ellie Bird, area commander for the Scottish area of BTP, added: “The real dangers of trespassing, or committing other route crime such as stone-throwing or vandalism, have been highlighted by recent incidents. Anyone who thinks it is a good idea needs to think again, as you are risking your own life and endangering others as well as causing unnecessary disruption.

“Parents also need to ask themselves if they have done enough to make children aware of how dangerous an environment the railway can be. Useful resources are available on the Network Rail TeachingZone and TrackOff websites.”

Anyone with information about any criminal activity on the railway can contact BTP on 0800 405040 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.