East
Midlands
Railway


has
launched
a
public
appeal
after
a
series
of
attacks
on
trains
in
the
Loughborough
area.

A
cab
windscreen
has
been
broken,
while
a
large
scooter
was
dropped
from
a
bridge,
damaging
a
passing
train.
On
a
third
occasion
builders’
waste
and
masonry
were
dropped
from
the
same
bridge.

The
attacks
began
on
3
February,
when
the
scooter
was
thrown
from
Allsopps
Lane
Bridge
near
Loughborough
station,
and
there
have
been
two
more
since,
on
16
and
17
February,. 

Apart
from
the
risks
to
lives,
many
trains
have
been
delayed.
A
total
of
21
trains
have
been
affected,
accumulating
214
delay
minutes
between
them.

EMR
is
asking
for
help
from
the
public,
in
a
bid
to
trace
the
vandals.

The
operator’s
community
safeguarding
and
security
manager
Danielle
Clarke
said:
‘These
acts
are
not
pranks
or
a
bit
of
harmless
fun,
but
incredibly
dangerous
crimes
that
put
customers
and
staff
at
serious
risk
of
injury
or
worse.
They
also
lead
to
trains
being
damaged,
delayed,
and
services
being
cancelled.

‘Even
though
we
are
putting
measures
in
place
to
help
address
the
issue,
the
public
can
also
play
a
really
important
role.
If
they
see
any
items
being
thrown
at
trains
or
someone
placing
objects
on
the
track,
they
should
contact
British
Transport
Police
by
texting
61016
or
calling
0800
40
50
40.’

Dan
Matthews,
who
is
head
of
operations
delivery
for
Network
Rail,
added:
‘These
acts
of
vandalism
not
only
put
lives
at
serious
risk
but
also
cause
significant
disruption.

‘We
work
closely
with
train
operators
like
EMR
and
British
Transport
Police
to
prevent
such
incidents
and
catch
those
responsible.
We
urge
anyone
who
witnesses
suspicious
behaviour
on
or
around
our
railways
to
report
it
immediately.’

Do
you
have
a
comment
on
this
story?
Please
click here  to
send
an
email
to
Platform
at
Railnews.

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be
published
on
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in
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edition.