Man on tracks incident closed

Transport police have been unable to investigate the incident in which a toilet-seeking Aberdonian trespassed on railway lines in Fife because ScotRail’s CCTV system was rebooting.

The man crossed back and forward across the tracks at Kirkcaldy station at around 5.30pm on October 16 in front of a busy platform.

His actions, described by one politician as “a shocking stunt” were witnessed by a number of people but apparently missed by ScotRail staff.

Despite it happening just outside the station’s waiting areas, there is no footage of the incident.

Mid Scotland and Fife

“ScotRail was unable to see anything at the time”

MSP Claire Baker said the fact a trespassing incident at Kirkcaldy Railway Station could go unrecorded raised questions about safety.

“Considering the current catchphrase at stations is ‘see it, say it, sorted’, many passengers would be shocked to learn ScotRail was unable to see anything at the time of a major incident,” said the Labour MSP.

ScotRail said CCTV coverage is in place but the system went down for about quarter of an hour around the time of the incident while computers were rebooting.

The blackout means it is virtually impossible to identify the man, who jumped down from platform two and crossed the tracks before telling travellers on platform one, “Aberdonian, needing the toilet”.

He then entered the station building and used the facilities, before crossing the tracks for a second time and leaving by the exit at platform two.

A spokesman for the BTP confirmed officers would be taking no further action “unless further investigative opportunities come to light”.