VIDEO: Transport police warning about deadly track dangers

WARNING: The footage below includes graphic scenes which some people may find upsetting.

A new video, released today by British Transport Police and Network Rail, shows people dicing with death as they cross tracks, play on lines and stumble off platforms.

The footage ends with a graphic clip of a man being hit by a train

In the last ten years, almost 170 people have lost their lives trespassing on British railways. Almost half of those killed were under-25.

British Transport Police  and Network Rail urged parents to talk to children about the dangers of trespassing on railway lines.

Vicki Beadle, Community Safety Manager from Network Rail, said: “We are urging parents to remind their children 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.

“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.”

Figures show:

q 72 per cent of all trespassers who died over the last ten years were struck by a train.

q Another 17 per cent were electrocuted.

q The remaining 11 per cent fell from structures or trains.

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

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

Chief Insp Lorna McEwan, who is responsible for BTP’s response to trespass in the Yorkshire and Humber region, said: “The last thing our officers want to do is knock on someone's door to tell a parent their child has been killed or seriously injured as a result of trespassing.

“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 parents and 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.”

For more information, visit the National Rail website.