“Incredibly dangerous” vandalism is putting the train passengers and staff “at serious risk of injury or worse”, East Midlands Railways (EMR) has said. The train operator has spoken out after three separate incidents have taken place near Loughborough this month.
In one case, EMR said a “large scooter” was “thrown” off Allsopps Lane railway bridge, “damaging” a train as it went by. Around two weeks later, builders' waste and masonry were dropped from the same bridge onto the track, and a rock was also thrown at a train. One day later, EMR said, a “large object” was thrown and, this time, smashed a train windscreen.
EMR has slammed the “reckless” acts, saying they have resulted in “train damage, delays and serious risks to lives”. Together, the incidents impacted 21 trains, and resulted in 214 minutes of delays for passengers.
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EMR is now “urgently” appealing for the public’s help in tackling such crimes. Danielle Clarke, community safeguarding and security manager at EMR, said: "These acts are not pranks or a bit of harmless fun, but incredibly dangerous crimes that put customers and staff at serious risk of injury or worse.
“They also lead to trains being damaged, delayed, and services being cancelled. Even though we are putting measures in place to help address the issue, the public can also play a really important role.
“If they see any items being thrown at trains or someone placing objects on the track, they should contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40."
Dan Matthews, head of operations delivery for Network Rail, added: "These acts of vandalism not only put lives at serious risk but also cause significant disruption to our rail network. We work closely with train operators like EMR and British Transport Police to prevent such incidents and catch those responsible.
“We urge anyone who witnesses suspicious behaviour on or around our railways to report it immediately. The safety of passengers and railway staff is our top priority, and we will not tolerate actions that compromise this."
