VIDEO: dramatic footage shows dangers of trespassing on the railway

A video has been released by British Transport Police, along with a warning to young people in the South-East, as figures show trespass on the railway is on the rise across the region.
A still from the video footageA still from the video footage
A still from the video footage

Among the various CCTV clips, the video shows children placing items on the tracks, people running across the tracks and a harrowing incident which left a man paralysed after taking a shortcut on the line.

In the last three years, there has been a seven per cent rise in the number of reports of trespass over the summer.

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Longer evenings, coupled with the start of the holidays, spell danger for Britain’s youth as national statistics show young people are twice as likely to trespass at this time of year than in the winter.

This summer, British Transport Police and Network Rail are reminding teenagers and young adults about the dangers of going on the tracks.

Over the past ten years, almost 170 young people in the UK have lost their lives after trespassing on the railway. The data shows that just under half of those killed are under the age of 25.

Alice Morton from Network Rail, explained: “We are reminding young people that if they are on the railway, they are on dangerous ground. It may seem like a good idea to take a shortcut, or like fun to play on the tracks, but this is not only illegal, it is also dangerous.

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“Britain has the safest railway in Europe but still too many people lose their lives on the tracks. As the railway gets busier and we electrify more lines to improve services, we must work harder to keep young people safe by making them aware of the dangers that exist. Taking a short cut or messing around on the tracks can result in serious life-changing injuries or death.”

Most trespassers highlight taking a short cut (42%) as their main motivation for committing the crime, followed by thrill-seeking (19%).

In response to the seasonal surge in incidents, officers from British Transport Police are stepping up patrols across the region.

Chief Inspector Tom Naughton said, who is responsible for BTP’s response to trespass in the, said: “The last thing our officers want to do is knock on someone’s door to tell a parent their loved one has been killed or seriously injured as a result of trespassing.

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“We’re doing all we can to keep young people safe by patrolling areas where we know they’re likely to trespass and prevent them from doing so. However, we cover thousands of miles of track and we cannot tackle this issue alone.

“That is why we are urging young people to heed this warning and take a reality check when it comes to trespass. It’s not a game: they are real tracks, with real trains and real life consequences.”

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