As the Bath Christmas Market opens and crowds begin to flock into the city, the rail industry is urging passengers to travel with safety in mind when around the railway when travelling to and from Bath.
The markets, which began to open on Thursday 28 November and will run until Sunday 15 December, is expected to attract thousands to the centre, with over 400,000 visiting last year.
The rail network will see a significant increase in passengers travelling to and from Bath over the 18 days.
The run-up to Christmas tends to see a spike in the number of intoxication-related incidents. These incidents included slips, trips and falls at stations along with more severe trespass offences.
Incidents have risen to an average of 25 a day over the Christmas period in the UK, which is double the amount compared to previous months. Recent figures also show that there has been a 30 per cent increase in alcohol-related incidents on the railway over the last decade.
Along with safety concerns, in the last year, more than 4,300 hours of delays nationally were attributed to alcohol-related incidents.
British Transport Police will have additional patrols at the station as well as on trains to prevent crime, provide reassurance to passengers and help with the smooth running of the event.
Passengers are advised to stay safe by:
- Standing away from the platform edge, which is behind the yellow line
- Holding onto the handrail on stairs and escalators
- Walking and not running
- Staying off the railway tracks
- Speaking to staff if help is needed
What did the officials have to say?
Inspector Ian Bevan, British Transport Police, said:
“We want to make sure everyone enjoys the festivities at Bath Christmas Market and we'll be working closely with our partners to ensure everyone does so safely.
“The railway can be a dangerous place, so we ask passengers to take extra care of themselves and others at this busy time of year to make sure they have a safe journey.
“We'll have extra patrols in place across the network and we'll be here to help anyone who needs it.”
Paul Clark, interim safety director for Network Rail, Wales and Western, said:
“We know that the number of alcohol-related incidents on the railway rises during the festive period, which is why we have joined our BTP colleagues in this campaign to encourage responsible drinking, especially near the railway.
“When out and about this Christmas, make sure to stay safe when near the railway, in stations and at level crossings and don't be afraid to ask for help. Our staff want to make sure that everyone gets home safe everyday – whether that's today, tomorrow, or after your Christmas party.”
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