96 Trespasses On NI Railways Since June

96 people have been recorded trespassing on the rail network in Northern Ireland since the beginning of June, according to Translink.

Translink NI Railways said the influx has begun since schools finished for the summer holidays.

Incidents have included a member of the public being reported by a resident close to tracks in Whitehead, a group of young people spotted under a bridge at Finaghy and a trespasser being removed from the line at Greenisland.

Lynda Shannon, Communications Manager, Translink said: "Safety, while always at the top of the agenda for Translink, particularly comes to the fore at this time of year. While we always appeal for parents and carers to remind young people to stay away from tracks, they are not the only ones who decide to use the rail network as a shortcut. Of the trespassing incidents we recorded in the past month, many of the trespassers were adults and one of them was senior citizen.

"Sometimes people don’t think about what they could be up against if a train came along at the wrong minute. When you take into consideration that the fastest man in the world at last summer’s Olympics, Usain Bolt, can cover just over 10 metres per second, while one of our trains travelling at 90 miles per hour covers 40 metres per second, it’s clear that when it comes to man versus train, there’s no contest!"

Translink said the impacts of trespassing include delays to services and risk of serious injury or death.

The group's trains have CCTV both inside and out and there are cameras located in several areas around the network.

If prosecuted, trespassers risk being fined if convicted in court.

(IT/CD)