New figures from Network Rail and British Transport Police reveal more people than ever are risking their lives on the rail network by trespassing on the tracks in the South West.

The data, which looks at trends over the last five years, shows trespass incidents are at all-time high in the region, while nationally one person trespasses and dices with death every hour. 

Last year there were around 553 incidents where people risked their lives on the rail network in the South West – a rise of 14 per cent compared to last year. There were 34 incidents logged on the lines in Cornwall, four of them involving under-18s. 

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

Network Rail has launched a schools 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. 

To find out how to keep your children safe on the railway this summer visit: www.networkrail.co.uk/trespass or www.btp.police.uk/realitycheck