Selfies taken on rail tracks can be fatal, teenagers warned

SOCIAL media may be contributing to the rise in deaths of teenagers on the railways, says British Transport Police.

Seven teenagers were killed on Britain’s rail tracks in the past year, and last month three young graffiti artists died at Loughborough Junction, in south London, after they were hit by a train.

A police spokesman said social media “could be a factor” in influencing young people to trespass, with the thrill of taking photos or footage.

The police and Network Rail have launched a campaign urging people to keep off rail property.

Trespassing by minors has increased by 80 per cent since 2013, and it went up by 21 per cent in the last year alone.

Robin Smith, of the transport police, said bad decisions had “a lasting impact” on trespassers’ families and friends.