South Western Railway (SWR) is marking Rail Safety Week (June 26 - July 2) with a reminder of how to stay safe on the Island Line.
Station staff and train drivers have recently reported instances of trespassing on the railway, which is illegal and can result in court action and a £1,000 fine.
Not only is trespassing on the railway illegal, it is also extremely dangerous. Anyone using the Island Line should do the following to stay safe:
- Listen to instructions from railway staff
- Pay attention to signs and notices
- Not cross the yellow line on station platforms unless they are boarding a train
- Not go beyond platform end boards
- Not deviate from dedicated crossing points
- Dial 999 or speak to a member of railway staff if they see someone trespassing or injured
Trespassing anywhere on the railway network is extremely dangerous. On the Island Line, recent timetable changes mean more trains are running, further increasing the dangers.
There is also the risk of electrocution from the Island Line’s third rail, which is powered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with 750 volts of electricity – enough to cause serious injury or worse.
Jane Lupson, SWR’s Director of Safety and Security said:
“Rail Safety Week is a good opportunity to remind everyone that the railway can be a dangerous place if they don’t follow the rules.
"The Island Line is no different to the majority of our lines on the mainland, with a lot of trains running and a third rail powered with 750 volts of electricity 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
“Because of all of these risks, no one apart from authorised railway staff should be accessing the track, because if they do, they put themselves and others in danger. We appreciate everyone’s co-operation in keeping customers, visitors and our colleagues safe.”
In 2020, Network Rail created a video to raise awareness of the risks of trespass on the railway.
‘Tegan’s Story’ highlights the events that took place in the summer of 2018 when 16-year-old Tegan almost died at Bournemouth station as she tried to cross the tracks. Her story remains as relevant today as it was then, with Tegan lucky to have survived.
The video can be viewed here: Tegan's Story | Network Rail - Trespassing series - YouTube
The public should dial 999 or speak to a member of railway staff immediately if they see someone trespassing on the railway.
If someone is injured, again, alert staff or dial 999. They should not touch the casualty or put themselves at risk.
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