Transport for Wales (TfW) has issued a warning about the increased risk of death and serious injury to those trespassing and carrying out anti-social behaviour (ASB) on South Wales' Core Valleys Lines amid its ongoing electrification. The latest data reveals that instances of ASB at stations have surged by 28% this year, compared with the same period in 2023.
The data has also shown that nearly two-thirds of the instances of ASB (73%) involved individuals under the age of 17. And while trespassing incidents are down by 38%, over a third of these incidences also involved young people. The Core Valleys Lines have recently undergone electrification as a part of the South Wales Metro project.
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TfW said it had taken measures to improve safety on rail tracks, including new fencing and extended safety barriers, but the overhead line equipment (OLE) posed an "added danger" to those who didn't use the railway properly. It warned that contact with an OLE was fatal 9 times out of 10, with survivors suffering life-changing injuries. They carry 25,000 volts of electricity and the heat generated from the shock can reach temperatures of over 3,000 degrees. For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here
Some of the anti-social behaviours reported include individuals throwing stones at trains and kicking rugby balls on station platforms. While trespassing incidents are down, numbers of cable theft are increasing showing that people continue to trespass despite TfW's repeated messaging about the increased dangers.
The stations with the most cases of ASB on Core Valleys Lines so far in 2024:
The stations with the most trespassing incidents:
- Cardiff Central station - 11%.
- Abercynon - 7%
- Caerphilly - 7%
- Cardiff Queen Street - 7%
Lois Park, head of community and stakeholder engagement at TfW, explained: “While it’s encouraging to see a declining trend in reported trespassing incidents, the introduction of OLE marks the need for continued caution. Worryingly, there seems to be more and more school-aged children trespassing when the stakes are higher than ever. Everyone, no matter their age, needs to be aware of the dangers. Even just one incident of trespassing could be fatal.
“However, it’s not just trespassing that is unsafe. Electricity from OLE can jump, and the risk of electrocution without direct contact is significantly higher. This means anti-social activities that people may not have deemed as ‘dangerous’ before can now have even more serious, potentially life-threatening consequences.
“People should stay at least 2.75 metres away from OLE at all times and take extra care when carrying objects such as umbrellas, helium balloons and fishing rods.” Anyone witnessing suspicious behaviour on tracks is urged to report it immediately to the British Transport Police at 0800 40 50 40 or by texting 61016. In emergencies, dial 999 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111.
