East
Midlands
Railway


has
issued
a
critical
safety
warning
after
three
trains
collided
with
supermarket
trolleys
dumped
on
the
line
in
Derby.
A
pushchair
was
also
found.

In
one
case,
two
young
children
were
seen
trespassing
on
the
railway
nearby.

The
incidents
all
occurred
last
month,
but
EMR
has
only
now
revealed
the
details.

The
first
was
on
8
May,
when
a
freight
train
collided
with
a
trolley
near
Peartree
at
about
22.35.
The
driver
was
able
to
carry
on,
after
clearing
the
obstruction.

The
next
day
a
passenger
train
hit
two
trolleys
in
the
same
area.
No
one
was
reported
injured,
but
the
train
was
damaged
and
nine
trains
were
delayed
by
a
total
of
more
than
two
hours.

On
10
May,
just
before
seven
in
the
evening,
a
train
struck
another
shopping
trolley
near
the
Caxton
Street
footbridge
in
Sunny
Hill.
Two
children.
thought
to
be
about
eight
or
nine,
were
seen
trespassing.
The
trolley
became
wedged
under
the
train
and
its
journey
had
to
be
terminated.

The
incident
resulted
in
five
full
cancellations,
six
part
cancellations,
and
delays
to
54
trains,
which
amounted
to
more
than
20
hours
of
late
running.
Meanwhile,
a
pushchair
was
found
on
the
tracks
under
the
Caxton
Street
footbridge.

EMR
emergency
planning
manager
Lucy
Gallacher
said:
‘These
reckless
acts
must
stop.
They
are
incredibly
dangerous
for
our
customers
and
our
staff.
They
not
only
have
the
potential
to
endanger
lives
but
also
lead
to
trains
being
damaged,
delayed,
and
services
being
cancelled.

‘The
public
can
play
a
really
important
part.
We
are
asking
parents
and
guardians
to
educate
their
children
about
the
dangers
of
playing
near
the
railways
or
placing
objects
on
them.

‘To
the
wider
general
public,
if
they
see
any
items
being
thrown
at
trains
or
someone
placing
items
on
the
track,
they
should
contact
British
Transport
Police
immediately
by
texting
61016
or
by
calling
0800
40
50
40.‘

British
Transport
Police
local
Inspector
Rich
Kane
added:
‘Any
act
of
anti-social
behaviour
on
or
around
the
rail
network
is
not
tolerated
and
deliberate
acts
to
harm
or
endanger
the
lives
of
others
will
always
be
a
priority
of
ours.

‘If
you
see
anything
that
doesn’t
look
right
or
feel
you
or
others
may
be
in
danger,
please
contact
us.’

Network
Rail
community
safety
manager
Hayley
Manners
said:
‘The
railway
is
not
a
playground
and
we
continually
work
with
East
Midlands
Railway
and
British
Transport
Police
to
educate
people
of
all
ages
about
the
risks
of
trespassing
on
the
railway
and
carrying
out
actions
like
these.’