As “mad Friday” approaches revellers warned to “keep a clear head” around the rail network over the festive season
• 7,419 recorded alcohol-related incidents on and around the railway in 2016/7 – an increase of 17% compared with 2015/16
• 16% of those incidents happened over the festive period2
• Network Rail, British Transport and RSSB unite to encourage people to Keep a Clear Head on and around the railway
The run-up to Christmas is traditionally very social; a time of catching up with friends and family and of work parties and drinks. It’s a time for fun, but newly-released data from Network Rail, British Transport Police (BTP) and RSSB reveals that for some, that fun can spell danger, resulting in a sharp increase in the number of alcohol-related incidents across the rail network.
Every year we also see a rise in violence at many of the busiest railway stations over the festive season, much of which is caused by excess alcohol.
In response, we have stepped up patrols at railway stations across the country.
Superintendent Eddie Wylie said, “Unfortunately, during the festive season, we see a rise in public order offences and antisocial behaviour. Much of this is down to the people involved drinking too much and behaving in a way that would shock them and their family and friends if they were sober.
“We want everyone to get to their destination safely. Our officers will be out on the network in the North of England helping people to enjoy the festivities safely and encouraging them to think about how alcohol can affect the way they behave and the effect this has on their fellow passengers.
“If you’re using the railway to get around this Christmas, please keep a clear head. Think about what you would do and how you would behave if you were sober. There is no excuse for spoiling other people’s journeys or behaving any differently because you’ve drunk alcohol. We want you to have fun but it’s more important to get where you’re going safely.”
But it’s not only antisocial behaviour which has increased. Of the 7,419 recorded alcohol-related incidents on or around the railway in 2016/17, 16% of those took place over the festive period – between 24 November and 2 January 2017. 21 people have been killed due to alcohol-related incidents at the platform edge and a further 91 people seriously injured over the last 10 years. Passengers boarding and alighting trains were involved in 469 alcohol-related accidents in the last five years3.
Danger points for intoxicated passengers are:
• not heeding the warnings at level crossings
• trips and slips at the platform edge
• straying onto the railway tracks
Allan Spence, head of public and passenger safety at Network Rail, explains:
“Though trains are the safest way to get around, passengers and people living near the railway must always remember that it can be a dangerous place. That’s why we’re reminding the public to remain alert to those dangers whilst they’re having fun over the festive season.
“Taking a short cut across the tracks, chancing it at level crossings or tripping at the platform edge can, at best cause delays to your journey; at worse it can result in serious harm. Enjoy yourself but don’t let alcohol stop you or your fellow passengers from getting to where you need to be – keep a clear head.”
Tom Lee, Director of Standards at RSSB, said: “Travelling by train is very safe and we want everyone to have a harmless and punctual journey whilst enjoying the festive season. However, with around 469 alcohol-related incidents at the platform edge over the past five years, passengers and level crossing users are reminded to take care so that they get to and from their destination safely.”
In response to the seasonal surge in incidents, Network Rail and BTP will be holding alcohol awareness events at Manchester Victoria and Piccadilly stations, and Liverpool Lime Street in the run up to Christmas. Both organisations will also be targeting Christmas revellers in pubs and clubs near railway stations and level crossings with a reminder to ‘keep a clear head’.
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