Advertisement

Alarming rise in people risking lives by trespassing on train tracks

According to Network Rail and the British Transport Police, across Britain, one person trespasses on the railway every hour, putting their lives in danger. In the south, the numbers of trespassers is at a high.

View all 3 updates ›

Rise in people risking lives trespassing on train tracks

This person narrowly misses the oncoming train Credit: British transport police

The amount of people who trespass on train tracks has dramatically increased.

According to Network Rail and the British Transport Police, on average, at least one person every hour will venture onto the track.

Last year, there were 8,265 such incidents across Britain and in the past five years 115 people were killed, with half, younger than 25.

Trespassing incidents involving youths double during spring and summer compared with winter.

Britain has the safest railway in Europe but still too many people lose their lives on the tracks. The dangers may not always be obvious but the electricity on the railway is always on and trains can travel up to 125mph, so even if they see you, they can't stop in time.

– Allan Spence, Network Rail

More top news