British Transport Police have launched a crackdown on youths trespassing on railway lines in Tayside and Fife, as part of a national campaign.
The operation has been timed to coincide with the October school holidays, to warn youngsters that playing on the railway risks lives and will not be tolerated.
Dundee and Cupar have been identified as particular “hot spots” for teenagers and younger children to seek thrills near the train tracks.
In August last year a 16-year-old from Springfield, near Cupar, died after she was struck by a train.
She had been with a group of other young people at the Cults Mill level crossing on the main east coast line when the accident occurred.
Monifieth has also experienced problems and this year four youngsters risked their lives “playing chicken” with a train.
The incident happened just days after a warning not to trespass on the lines and prompted BTP to tighten security around the station.
Cupar councillor Roger Guy welcomed the action from BTP and urged parents to ensure their children are made aware of the dangers.
He said, “As well as the danger to the child there is the pain and anguish for the families of anybody run down in such an unnecessary way.”
Dundee West councillor Fraser Macpherson said, “Young people or anybody else trespassing on a railway line are clearly putting their lives at risk so this campaign from the BTP is to be welcomed.
“In Dundee we have a problem not just with trespassing but with vandalism and graffiti on the railway line right throughout the city.
“Children playing on the railway line should be made to realise it is not just their own lives that they are endangering.”Increase in patrolsOver the next few weeks patrols will be increased around specific locations to crack down on offences such as stone-throwing, obstructing trains, trespassing and lineside vandalism.
Officers will carry out high profile, high visibility and plain clothes operations in targeted areas of both regions as part of the national campaign.
The CCTV system will also be monitored at stations and throughout the rail network.
Chief Superintendent Ellie Bird, area commander of the Scottish area of BTP, said there was no room for complacency despite the fact route crime offences had been reduced by 12% in the last year.
She added, “During these holidays we unfortunately see an increase in offences on the rail network.
“So we are hoping that by targeting hotspot areas and through the education work we have already done, we will reduce the number of incidents and deter the majority of youngsters from committing any of the route crime offences.”
Whenever a youngster is caught on the railway, BTP officers will find out which school they attend to investigate the problem.
Specially-trained schools liaison officers will then visit the schools to educate children of the consequences of their actions.
Statistics are given, to stress the dangers including the fact that it can take the length of 20 football pitches for a fast train to stop.
The number of people killed in railway trespassing incidents in the UK rose from 44 in 2008-09 to 49 in 2009-10.
Figures from the Rail Safety and Standards Board showed there were 12 deaths at level crossings in 2009/10, while the number of train collisions with road vehicles dropped from 21 in 2008-09 to 14 in 2009-10.
Members of the public are being asked to report any criminal activity on or near a railway to BTP on 0800 40 50 40 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.