Did you know that humans are the biggest culprits of trespassing on the railway?
According to Network Rail’s research, the number of incidents of people trespassing on the railway reach a shocking 19,300, or one person every half an hour! Aside from humans, deer are the next biggest trespasser on the railway, with 350 incidents reported last year. Animals have been reported on the railway 1,432 in the last 12 months. Network Rails statistics report the number of trespassing incidents within this timeframe:
Deer: 350 incidents
Sheep: 177 incidents
Birds: 172 incidents
Swans: 143 incidents
Cows: 156 incidents
Other animals on the list include dogs, cats, badgers, foxes and pigs.
Operations Chief Helen Hamlin of Network Rail stated, “Trespassing on the railway is a serious offence that causes delays to thousands of trains every year and can be very costly for people – causing death and life changing injuries due to the railways many hidden dangers. This summer, when we see trespass at its peak our message is clear whoever you are: child, adult, dog walker, holiday maker or beast – stay off the tracks”
Network Rail have a range of measures on place to help manage and prevent animal trespassers onto the railway:
Using AI systems to detect and deter deer on the railway.
Installing wildlife crossings, including deer leaps – a short wooden fence that deer are able to escape over.
Training staff how to safely remove swans from the railway.
Annually inspecting fencing to maintain fences along the railway.
You can read more about animals trespassing on the railway, and how Network Rail are responding to it here.
Network Rail recently released a frightening video, which showed footage of people who risked their lives at railway level crossings through misuse and trespassing. You can watch it here. This reinstates the dangers of straying onto the track, and the potential outcomes it could cause.
The team at KITE Projects do not support trespassing on the railway at all. Not only does it cause delays in the train’s timetables, you are also potentially putting your own life in danger by straying onto the tracks. Stay safe this season, and support the rail network by keeping yourself and your animals off the rails!