Network
Rail


and
British
Transport
Police
have
released
the
results
of
a
new
survey
which
suggests
that
almost
three
out
of
five
people
don’t
know
that
electrified
railways
can
be
lethal.

The
survey
reported
that
59
per
cent
of
those
questioned
did
not
know
what
the
third
rail
is
for,
while
38
per
cent
don’t
believe
that
electrocution
from
conductor
rails
can
cause
serious
injuries
–
or
worse.

A
campaign
has
been
launched
today,
as
the
spring
and
summer
holidays
approach.
Lighter
evenings
are
associated
with
a
20
per
cent
increase
in
trespassing.

A
new
series
of
films
called
‘Stay
off
the
Tracks’
has
been
produced
as
part
of
the
‘You
vs
Train’
campaign,
which
emphasises
the
dangers
on
railways,
and
the
potentially
catastrophic
effects
of
taking
a
risk
on
them.

The
films
feature
first
responders
collaborating
with
professionals
from
the
film
industry
to
recreate
the
sights,
sounds
and
effects
they
have
encountered
when
dealing
with
critical
injuries
caused
by
coming
into
contact
with
the
750V
DC
conductor
rail.

Nicole
Lee
is
the
NHS
Burns
Network
Manager
for
the
London
and
South
East
and
features
in
the
campaign.
She
explains
that:
‘As
a
burns
nurse,
I’ve
witnessed
the
severe
consequences
of
third
rail
injuries.
The
high
voltage
can
cause
profound
burns,
leading
to
long-term
physical
and
emotional
suffering.
It’s
distressing
to
see
individuals
endure
injuries
that
could
have
been
easily
prevented
by
staying
off
the
tracks.
These
injuries
not
only
affect
the
victims
but
also
have
a
lasting
impact
on
their
families
and
friends.’

The
survey
also
revealed
41
per
cent
of
people
believe
it
is
safe
to
walk
on
the
line
if
no
trains
are
coming,
and
40
per
cent
think
it
is
safe
to
pick
something
off
the
track
as
long
as
they
do
not
touch
a
rail,
while
a
third
of
younger
people
aged
between
18
and
44
admit
they
would
take
a
short
cut
across
the
line.
Network
Rail
said
the
findings
were
‘underscoring
the
urgent
need
to
educate
the
public
further
on
railway
safety’.

Conductor
rails
are
mainly
found
south
and
west
of
London
and
also
on
the
Merseyrail
network,
while
London
Underground
lines
have
two
conductor
rails,
which
are
just
as
dangerous.

Overhead
lines
carrying
25,000
volts
are
used
on
railways
in
many
parts
of
the
country,
from
South
Wales
to
East
Anglia,
the
South
East,
the
Midlands,
Northern
England
and
Scotland.

The
overhead
is
even
more
dangerous
than
conductor
rails,
because
it
is
not
necessary
to
touch
the
wire
to
get
a
fatal
shock.
The
voltage
is
so
high
that
the
current
can
arc
through
the
air
for
a
metre
or
more
–
and
the
range
of
the
arc
increases
in
damp
conditions.

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