Call for rail trespass action

There were 13 deaths due to trespass on rail lines

Concerns have been raised about the number of fatalities due to trespassing on Scotland's railway network.

The head of Scotland's railway inspectorate said more should be done to tackle the problem after 13 lives were lost due to trespass last year.

Gerald Kerr was renewing his call for action after formal publication of HM Railway Inspectorate's (HMRI) annual report for 2000-01.

Concerns were expressed about land slips

The report, details of which were first revealed in September, showed that 27 people died on Scotland's railways last year, which was two more than in 1999-2000.

The Scottish statistics also revealed that the number of signals passed at danger (Spads) was 46 - a three-year low.

However, there was an increase of one in the number of Start Away Spads where signals are missed when a train moves away from a stationary position at the platform.

Incidents of vandalism, including obstructions on track and missile damage to windows, fell from 64 incidents in both cases last year, to 54 and 49 this year, respectively.

But the number of fires started deliberately on board trains doubled from eight to 16 and six of these were on passenger trains.

'Not a playground'

Mr Kerr said: "It remains a continuing concern to us that 13 people were struck by trains as a result of trespassing on the railway.

"The message is not getting through.

"But we need to get that message across that the railway is not a playground and it is not a short cut home."

Mr Kerr said the Health and Safety Executive should work closely with the Scottish Executive and industry to reduce the number of deaths.

"Trespassing is mostly carried out by 14 to 17-year-old boys and it is a social problem and not just a railway issue," he said.

Mr Kerr welcomed the fact there were no passenger or train crew fatalities last year, while 55 broken rails were detected, compared to 89 in 1998-99.

But he voiced concern about the number of incidents following land slips caused by heavy rain.

In addition to 27 railway fatalities - 12 of which were suicides - the report said one passenger died after falling down stairs at Glasgow Queen Street station and a pedestrian was struck and killed by a train while using a level crossing in Aberdeenshire.