Date: 18 Mar 2008 13:02
The Easter holidays are approaching and Chiltern Railways are urging children to stay away from playing on the railway track.
Route crime offences such as trespassing, putting obstructions in front of trains, stone throwing and vandalising the railway infrastructure increase during school holidays and longer daylight hours. These not only cost the railway industry millions, they also cost lives. Every year children are killed or seriously injured because they use the railway as a playground.
It’s not just the victims who suffer. Children who watch their friends being killed or badly injured can be traumatised as can railway and emergency workers. Some train drivers are so badly affected by accidents they are unable to continue working. Even those who are used to dealing with tragic events such as police and ambulance crews can find the aftermath of train accidents very difficult to cope with. And, of course, friends and families suffer too.
Dave Newell is one of the Chiltern Railways drivers who visit schools in the local community to give rail safety lessons. He said: “We make it clear that if children trespass on the railway the consequences can be fatal as trains can take one mile and a half to stop - and they can’t swerve to avoid trespassers!
“It is important that these lessons are learnt because children will face peer-pressure and they will need to have the courage to say no.”
Network Rail also has a railway crime education team and part of their role is to talk to schools, youth groups, clubs etc in crime hotspot areas to try and get these safety message across. They also work with youth offending teams and give talks to magistrates on the seriousness and consequences of railway crime.
Follow these rules and stay safe:
• Always stand behind the yellow line until your train arrives and the doors open
• Never go on a railway line or walk along it
• Never squeeze around level crossing barriers if they are closed and don’t cross if the warning lights are on
• If you drop something on the line speak to a member of staff. Never go on the railway line
• Never stick your head out of the window of a moving train
• Never put anything onto a railway line
• If the train is pulling out as you arrive, never chase it and try to get on.
• Never dangle anything from railway bridges
• Never play with a kite or balloon near electric cables over railway tracks
• Do not ride a bicycle or a skateboard on a station platform
The British Transport Police take incidents of route crime extremely seriously. Trespassing on the railway is a criminal offence which can see the offender end up in court and result in a fine of £1,000 being given.
Anyone with information or if you have witnessed an incident of rail crime, please call the police on 0800 405040. Alternatively, in an emergence always call 999.
Ends
For further media information please contact the Chiltern Railways press office on 0207 3333014 or mailto: emma.gascoigne@chilternrailways.co.uk.
Notes to Editors
- According to Network Rail there are more than 28 million incidents of trespass on the railway every year and 11 million of them are committed by the under 16s.
- On average sixty people are killed on the railways each year with many more being badly injured.
- If you are a school and feel that you would benefit from a rail safety lesson please contact Chiltern Railways Press Office for further information at press@chilternrailways.co.uk.
