Trespasser in Barrhead prompts warning to stay off railway tracks

Network Rail Scotland is urging the public to stay safe and stay off the railway during the COVID-19 lockdown.
A number of trespassers have been spotted on railway lines in recent weeks.A number of trespassers have been spotted on railway lines in recent weeks.
A number of trespassers have been spotted on railway lines in recent weeks.

The warning follows a number of incidents across the country, including one where a woman was spotted on the line near Barrhead station.

Despite most people observing the government’s guidelines on staying home and social distancing, Scotland’s Railway is still seeing trespass and vandalism on the tracks.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Over 50 trespass incidents have been recorded on Scotland’s Railway since March 20, when Scotland’s schools closed ahead of the full lockdown on March 23.

In recent weeks trespassers have been spotted on rail lines across the country including locations in Glasgow, East Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire, Perthshire and the Lothians.

Liam Sumpter, Network Rail Scotland route director, said: “During the lockdown keeping your distance doesn’t just mean from other people – it means from the tracks too.

“Trespassing on the railway can be a fatal mistake. Trains take a long time to stop and anyone struck by one will suffer life-changing injuries or worse.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The railway is also full of hidden dangers – like overhead power lines which can carry up to 25,000 volts and kill instantly.

“We’re urging the public to stay safe and off the railway, allowing us to focus on supporting the country through this crisis by keeping key workers and vital freight services on the move.”

Network Rail works closely with the British Transport Police to keep Scotland’s Railway secure and trespassers and vandals will be prosecuted.

The public can also help to keep the railway safe by contacting Network Rail’s 24-hour helpline on 03457 114141 to report any locations where trespassers are gaining access to the tracks.

To find out more about the dangers of railway trespass, visit You vs Train – the campaign led by Network Rail and the wider rail industry to address the issue of trespass on the railway.

Related topics:

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.