People in Yorkshire are being warned by Network Rail about the dangers of trespassing on the railway, as 57 incidents of trespass have been recorded since the Coronavirus lockdown began.
Trespassers have been spotted on lines across the region, including in Sheffield, Leeds, Doncaster, Rotherham and Wakefield. The following incidents have been reported:
- A man jumped over a fence onto the railway with his daughter to collect firewood.
- Children dangling items from a bridge over the tracks.
- Four quad bikes on the railway.
- Two teenagers trespassing under a bridge, potentially putting something on the tracks.
- Three youths sat on the embankment above a tunnel with their legs dangling over the edge.
- A man on the railway looking for his dog.
- Youths on the railway under a bridge, with one being seen running across the tracks by a train driver.
Railway lines are used 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Almost one-third of the trespass incidents on the railway recorded since lockdown in Yorkshire involve children or young people.
What did the officials say?
Dawn Sweeting, Community Safety Manager for Network Rail, said:
“These trespass incidents in Yorkshire are shocking, and show many people are oblivious to the dangers they are putting themselves, their friends or their loved ones in.
“It's never safe to hang around on the railway or use it to take shortcuts, but sadly too many people ignore the warning signs and take risks that have resulted in tragic consequences.
“We've seen a worrying number of incidents at a time when people should be following Government guidelines and staying at home where possible. We are urging people to stay safe and stay off the tracks.”
Superintendent Alison Evans, British Transport Police, said:
“Your safety is our number one priority, and we are continuing to proactively patrol the thousands of miles of railway across the country.
“The railway is an extremely hazardous place, and trespass incidents like these can quite easily lead to death or catastrophic injuries.
“I'd urge parents and carers who live in the area to check where their children are playing and speak to them about the risks of the railway, so they understand that everyone loses when they step on the track.”
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THEN THEY SHOULD NOT BE ON THE RAILWAY TRACKS IN THE FIRST PLACE THEN SHOULD THEY!! Especially when we all are on lockdown because of the Coronavirus pandemic. 😡
I probably would think that they just don’t seem to care about the dangers ahead once trespassing onto the railway tracks. Why do us the public have so many idiots around who risk their lives and to ruin everything that the government has told us to stay at home.
Grays railway station on the c2c Line in South Essex has also been a hotspot of trespassing because of the pedestrianised level crossing that has been a target of trespassing. As well at other stations in Essex including at Basildon, Southend Central, Southend East and on the Greater Anglia lines across Essex and East Anglia. Even other parts in England such as London & the Southeast, The Midlands, North of England, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Westcountry and in Wales and Scotland has also seen lots of trespassing before the Coronavirus outbreak happened.
Why can’t these people including teenage youngsters listen to the advice and not knowing how dangerous railway tracks are. Including whether it’s electrified & energised with Live DC 750v 3rd Rail, Live AC 25,000v “25kv” Overhead line (OLE) or railway lines that are not electrified but trains travelling at high speed.
No wonder there has been fatalities on UK’s railway lines and at railway stations (including attempted suicide). It’s a real shame that so many lives have been on the railways.
And when there’s a fatality – or fatalities – it’s Network Rail’s fault !! An increase in the maximum penalty and custodial sentences should be mandatory.