‘Don’t dice with death’
A WARNING has been issued about the deadly dangers of trespassing on railways.
Bosses at Network Rail have highlighted the risks associated with such behaviour after incidents on local tracks were reported.
They fear the problem will escalate in the weeks ahead, now that the clocks have gone forward and the nights are getting lighter.
Network Rail has stressed that, once the brakes are applied, it can take the length of 20 football pitches for a train to come to a complete stop.
Also, the electricity used to power the railway – 25,000 volts in the overhead cables and 750 volts in the third rail – is on 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Trespassers don’t have to touch electricity sources on the railway to be at risk of harm, as electricity can jump and arc.
Innis Keith, health, safety and environment director at Network Rail Scotland, said: “The railway is an incredibly dangerous environment and those who trespass are breaking the law and risking their lives.
“The impact of choosing to go on to the tracks can be devastating, not just for those who sadly end up with life-changing injuries or worse, but also for their families and railway staff, who can be traumatised by these events.
“Added to that is the huge cost to passengers who miss important appointments, to businesses whose people can’t get to where they need to be and to the emergency services who have to use vital resources on responding to these incidents.”
Latest figures show that railway trespassing continues to be a significant problem across Scotland, with the number of recorded incidents rising by 11 per cent and the number of fatalities up by 85 per cent in 2023/24 compared with 2022/23.
Trespass incidents spiked after the clocks went forward and the lighter nights began during the month of April in both 2022 and 2023.
To boost safety, Network Rail and British Transport Police run the ‘You vs Train’ campaign, which aims to educate people on the dangers present on the railway and deter them from trespassing.
Mr Keith added: “No-one wants to see people come to harm, so we’re urging everyone to ensure they and their loved ones stay safe and stay off the tracks.”
For more information, visit www.youvstrain.co.uk.