An urgent warning is being issued to young people in Montgomeryshire as figures show trespass on the railway lines is on the rise.
In the past year, there has been a 19 per cent rise in the number of reports of trespass over the summer in Wales, including the Cambrian Railway through north Powys.
This summer, British Transport Police and Network Rail are urging parents to warn their children of the dangers of playing on the tracks.
Over the past 10 years, almost 170 young people in the UK have lost their lives after trespassing on the railway. The data shows that just under half of those killed are under the age of 25.
Tracey Young, community safety manager for Network Rail Wales, 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.”
Seventy-two per cent of all trespassers who died over the last 10 years were struck by a train. Another 17% were electrocuted and the others fell from structures or trains.
Most trespassers highlight taking a short cut (42%) as their main motivation for committing the crime, followed by thrill-seeking (19%).
In response to the seasonal surge in incidents, officers from British Transport Police are stepping up patrols across the region.
Inspector Mike Edwards, who is responsible for BTP’s response to trespass in Wales, 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.”
To find out how to keep your children safe on the railway this summer visit http://www.networkrail.co.uk/safety-education/information-for-parents/
