Passengers are being urged to take care when travelling on the rail network after a night out over the festive period.
The run-up to Christmas sees a spike in the number of accidents on the railway, including slips, trips and falls at stations, as well as trespass offences.
New figures released by Network Rail and British Transport Police (BTP) show the number of drink-related incidents on the network have surged by nearly a third in the past decade.
The increase in alcohol-related incidents on the railway is a major concern…
– Allan Spence, head of public and passenger safety for Network Rail
Some 9,378 alcohol-related incidents were recorded in 2018/19, compared with 7,070 in 2010/11.
In addition to safety concerns, more than 4,300 hours of delays were attributed to drunken passengers last year.
Allan Spence, head of public and passenger safety for Network Rail, said: “The increase in alcohol-related incidents on the railway is a major concern, which is why we have joined with our colleagues at the BTP to urge passengers to stay safe over the festive period.
“Many of us would admit to doing things we regret after a few drinks, but the consequences of unsafe behaviour near the railway could last for much longer than just the morning after.”
British Transport Police Inspector Becky Warren, explained: “We want everyone to enjoy the festivities and whilst it’s the party season, we don’t want you to have any next day regrets.
“We’ve seen first hand that alcohol can really affect your judgement and after a few drinks people often take greater risks, which can lead to people getting hurt or even killed.
“We also see people behave in ways they wouldn’t when sober, so please be mindful of other passengers and rail staff who will be doing their best at this busy time of the year.
“We’ll have extra patrols in place to keep rail users and the network safe – always remember that though you may not see us – we’re looking out for you.”
Advert
