Watch: Youngsters are risking their lives on Shropshire railway tracks

Network Rail and British Transport Police (BTP) revealed that 11 youngsters had risked their lives on the tracks in Shropshire.

It has released a video that shows real CCTV footage of children wandering onto the tracks, including on sections of track in our region.

Incidents in the Shrewsbury region, which for the BTP covers most of Shropshire and parts of Wales, revealed that there were around 524 incidents where people trespassed on the rail network – a two per cent rise on the previous year.

Research also shows young people are more likely to take a risk on the tracks than ever before, with seasonal peaks in incidents coinciding with the spring and summer school holidays.

Andy Thomas, route managing director for Network Rail, said: “Every April we see a huge rise in the number of people taking a risk on the rail network and it’s worrying that these numbers seem to be going up.

"Britain has the safest railway in Europe but still too many people lose their lives on the tracks. The dangers may not always be obvious but the electricity on the railway is always on and trains can travel up to 125 miles per hour – so even if they see you, they can’t stop in time.

“As the railway gets busier and we electrify more lines to improve services, we must work harder to keep young people safe by making them aware of the dangers. It may seem harmless to take a shortcut, or fun to play on the tracks, but this is not only illegal, it is also very dangerous.

"Taking a short cut or messing around on the tracks can result in serious life-changing injuries or death.”

In response to the seasonal surge in incidents and to tackle the problem of youth trespass, Network Rail has launched a youth engagement programme, which aims to teach children in trespass hotspots about railway safety. The ‘Tackling Track Safety’ programme will be rolled-out to more than 100 schools across Britain, using sport to educate children about the dangers across the network.

In 2016, 58 children were caught trespassing by police in the West Midlands, with boys aged 14 to 16 being stopped the most.

Chief Inspector Mark Cleland from BTP in Wales said: “We believe the number of children we encounter trespassing every year is sadly, just the tip of the iceberg.

“Every single day we are called to the tracks because a train driver has had to sound their horn or apply their emergency brake In a desperate bid to avoid youths on the line, who then run off, seemingly unaware of the danger they have put themselves in.

“We continue to do all we can to keep youngsters safe by patrolling areas where we know they’re likely to trespass and prevent them from doing so. However, we cover thousands of miles of track and we cannot tackle this issue alone. That is why we are urging parents and young people to heed this warning and take a reality check when it comes to trespass. It’s not a game: they are real tracks, with real trains and real-life consequences.”