Network Rail is urging young people to stay safe by staying off the railway.



Trespass incidents often increase during school holidays, and the consequences can be devastating for families with the risk of death or serious injury.


It is also a cause of serious disruption to passenger services,


Alarming figures have shown more than a quarter of teenagers (27%) confess to behaving in a way that could endanger their life on the railway. One in 10 teenagers admitted to walking along the railway line – more than two fifths of those (42%) in the last year.


Marcia Burnett, community safety manager for Network Rail’said:


“The railway is full of hidden dangers, particularly the electrical conductor rail which powers trains
.

“We are doing all we can, together with our partners in the rail industry and in the community, to improve education on rail safety but we need parents and young people to do their bit too.”


Network Rail has delivered rail safety sessions to more than 26,000 young people in the last year, to schools, community groups and youth programmes.