Network Rail is to run a local outreach programme to highlight the dangers of walking on railway tracks, following the release of images from the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.
The town's MP, Robbie Moore, recently held a meeting with representatives from the heritage railway line as well as West Yorkshire Police, British Transport Police and Network Rail.
It came after Mr Moore released images showing people trespassing on the line and a number of reports of people walking on the KWVR line, despite a regular service running. One photograph showed a family with a pushchair on the tracks and was widely shared on social media.
Mr Moore says he was joined in an online meeting on 25th May by Nick Bennett and Noel Hartley from Keighley Worth Valley Railway, Inspector Khalid Khan of West Yorkshire Police, Sergeant Martin Peters from the British Transport Police, and James Blanchard from Network Rail to discuss the matter.
As the Keighley Worth Valley Railway line is a privately-owned heritage railway line, the British Transport Police or Network Rail do not have authority over it. However the two organisations were keen to attend the meeting and get involved so that a joint up effort could be made to raise awareness of the dangers of trespassing on railway tracks, regardless of whether they are publicly or privately owned.
Robbie Moore MP said: “I am grateful to all who attended the meeting. It was a very proactive meeting and has provided reassurance that with a joint up effort across the board, key stakeholders are eager to raise awareness of the dangers of trespassing on railway lines – heritage or not. It cannot be said enough: walking on railway lines is dangerous.
“Network Rail have agreed to launch an outreach programme in local schools across the Keighley and Ilkley constituency highlighting the dangers of trespassing on railway lines. I will be supporting Network Rail with this initiative to promote it to as many schools as possible.”
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