School Holidays and Railway Safety

Trespassing on the railway network is extremely dangerous and endangers
not only the lives of those on the track, but also passengers, railway staff and
the general public.

Many people - especially young people - fail to understand the danger they put themselves and others in,
when they make the choice to stray onto the rail network. As we step into Spring and also as Summertime
approaches, we see an increase in the number of incidents being reported in the local area of {insert
location} with incidents we’re seeing involve children and young people:

 Walking along the railway lines
 Throwing stones at trains
 Placing objects on the railway lines
 Using the railway as a playground

The British Transport Police (BTP) and Network Rail are seeking the support of parents, guardians and the
local community to highlight the danger and implications of these activities to help us reduce the number of
young people putting themselves and others at significant risk.
To assist with the conversation there are a number of online videos available and range depending on the
age group of your child:
www.switchedonrailsafety.co.uk
www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/safety-in-the-community/safety-education/
www.youvstrain.co.uk

Key Messages
 Trains are ALWAYS running on the railway and can differ in times meaning that you can never
predict when a train will pass
 The Electricity is ALWAYS switched on around the railway
 Always Stop, Look and Listen before using a Level Crossing
 DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR CHILDREN ARE?

OFFICIAL

Trespassing on any part of the railway is also a criminal offence which can involve your child obtaining a
criminal record and a fine of £1000.
If you wish to report any information to BTP, please call us on Freephone 0800 40 50 40 or text the