£60,000 bill for delays to other services

Trespass incidents during Flying Scotsman’s public return to the East Coast Main Line caused over eight hours of delays. Some 59 services were held up due to encroachment onto the line, notably around St Neots, where photographs show large numbers of people on the wrong side of the fence; the ‘A3’s’ own arrival at York with its train from King’s Cross was more than 50 minutes late. Network Rail said the February 25 delays cost nearly £60,000 in compensation. “While the turnout to see the Flying Scotsman showed the passion and support for steam engines, and indeed for the railway itself, images of people stood on the railway taking photographs were deeply worrying”, NR’s head of route safety Emrys Warriner, said afterwards. “I cannot stress enough how dangerous it is to go onto the railway without permission, as well as being illegal.” Inspector Bob Moody from the British Transport Police warned: “There are lots of safe vantage points to view and take pictures of the train and we would urge people to use those, stay clear of the line and not be tempted to risk their lives and the lives of others by trespassing on the railway. “Large numbers of people trespassed on the tracks to view the service, which is not only extremely dangerous and resulted in the train’s journey being delayed, but it is an offence. Offenders risk a court appearance, a fine of £1,000 and a criminal record. “We will be seeking to take action against trespassers on future journeys to ensure that these pass safely and free from disruption.” The ECML has been the venue for mass trespass on occasions in the past, notably during the first run of ‘A1’ Tornado to London in 2009, and an anniversary trip that returned Flying Scotsman to the route after a long absence in 1983.