Vandals cause hundreds of delays across train services

VANDALS caused 63 hours of train delays in Wales last year, according to Network Rail.

Analysis of more than five million records show that there were 573 delays on their Welsh routes in the 12 months from to June 2017 put down to vandalism and theft.

Many of these were knock-on delays caused by earlier problems.

On top of the delays, there were also 47 services that had to be cancelled due to vandalism and theft.

Some of these vandals were throwing stones while others started fires near the track.

Arriva Trains Wales also said that cable theft in Abergavenny earlier this year had a “huge impact” on their services across the country.

The worst time of the year was a four-week period beginning in mid-October, when more than a third of all vandalism incidents in Wales took place.

Data shows that passengers all over the country had to wait because of vandals and thieves – with the incidents wasting time in Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, Wrexham, Llandudno, and Bridgend among others.

Bill Kelly, chief operating officer for Network Rail in Wales and the Borders, said: “Vandalism is not a victimless crime.

“Train delays and cancellations directly affect people going about their daily lives, such as getting to and from work, visiting family and travelling to hospital appointments.

“We want everyone home safe every day, and we are working with our partners at Arriva Trains Wales and British Transport Police to reduce vandalism and minimise disruption to passengers.”

A spokesman for the British Transport Police said: “If anyone ever witnesses a train, station or railway being vandalised, please report it to BTP by sending a text to 61016. In an emergency, always call 999.”