• Safety

  • The railways are safe when the rules are followed. But every year accidents are caused by those rules being ignored. 

    Whether it’s taking a short-cut home, graffiti or being drunk, people ignore the rules of the railways every day and put their lives at risk, as well as risking the safe running of the railway. We work with the public and communities to alert them to the dangers.

    The issues

  • Level crossing barrier

    Level crossings ►

    There are over 7,000 level crossings in the UK. The most familiar is the traffic light and barrier, where road and railway cross. Every year accidents are caused by road users and pedestrians who ignore level crossing barriers and warnings. These measures are not there to waste your time, they are there to save your life.

     
  • Member of the public trespassing on the tracks

    Trespass, vandalism and graffiti ►

    When we travel by train, we can all see the results of people trespassing, with vandalism and graffiti on railway property. Quite apart from the damage caused, few of the people involved realise the danger they are putting themselves in from speeding trains or electrification.

     
  • Electrified overhead line equipment

    Electrification ►

    Most countries in Europe have been switching from diesel trains to electric trains which are faster, quieter and greener. But the overhead electric lines and electrified tracks can cause severe injuries to anyone trespassing near them.

     

  • Our campaigns

  • Campaign poster: Level crossings. They're not time wasters, they're life savers

    Level crossings

    They’re not time wasters, they’re life savers.
    Our new level crossings campaign launched in 2011. It shows frustrated car drivers and pedestrians who feel their time is being wasted by the barrier but surprises people with the speed at which a train can come from seemingly nowhere.

    Guide to using level crossings safely
    Community safety member of staff with BTP officer

    Community based work

    Our Community safety team run a number of community based initiatives, working with schools, children, parents, community groups, British Transport Police (BTP), charities, youth offending boards and numerous other stakeholders. Their work ranges from talks in schools on the dangers of trespassing near the railways and leaflets for drivers on level crossings to liaising with the BTP to change the behaviour of known, regular trespassers.
     

    More about community safety
     
    Poster illustration showing the dangers of wheeled luggage: Don't be a trolley wally

    Considerate station behaviour

    The considerate behaviour campaign encourages station users to think about their safety and that of their fellow passengers when they are pulling luggage, rushing to get a train or trying to find their ticket at the barrier. 

    More on accessibility in stations