Police hunt teenage yobs who threw bicycle on railway line: Moment masked reckless pair risk lives of innocent passengers by tossing bike onto tracks at station
- Teenager is filmed leaving his pedal bike teetering on the platform’s edge
- Another youngster charges out from behind a brick wall and throws it on tracks
- Parents are urged tell children about potentially ‘devastating consequences’
Two teenagers have been filmed recklessly risking the lives of train passengers by hurling a bike onto a set of tracks.
In a shocking video, one teenager cycles up to the local station before leaving his pedal bike teetering on the platform’s edge.
A few seconds later, another youngster then charges out from behind a brick wall and chucks the bike down onto the train tracks below.
The footage, filmed at Cross Gates station, in Leeds, West Yorks, in June, comes as figures show young people were involved in more than half of incidents at one regional station.
In a shocking video, one teenager cycles up to the local station before leaving his pedal bike teetering on the platform’s edge
And Vicki Beadle, operations risk advisor for Network Rail, urged parents to tell their kids about the ‘devastating consequences’ of their actions.
She said: ‘I was astounded to see this reckless, irresponsible behaviour so close to the tracks at Cross Gates station.
‘The railway is no place for games, and it certainly isn’t a playground.
‘Seeing these young people put their lives at risk was a staggering reminder of our collective need to educate everybody about railway safety.
‘I’d urge parents and carers to speak to their children about the devastating consequences of trespass, vandalism and antisocial behaviour.’
A spokesperson for Network Rail said the dangerous behaviour can lead to fatal or life-changing consequences for all of those involved.
But they added it can also cause enormous amounts of delay and misery for passengers travelling to work, social events or to see loved ones.
A few seconds later, another youngster then charges out from behind a brick wall and chucks the bike down onto the train tracks below
Over the past year, trespass, vandalism and antisocial behaviour at Cross Gates station has resulted in more than 300 minutes of train delays
Over the past year, trespass, vandalism and antisocial behaviour at Cross Gates station has resulted in more than 300 minutes of train delays.
And it can be hugely expensive for taxpayers as well, with Network Rail footing a £20,000 bill in the past year due to similar types of careless behaviour.
Sgt Rob Pile, of British Transport Police, who works with the rail company to crack down on anti-social behaviour, said the footage should act as a ‘wake up call’.
He said: ‘This shocking footage should act as a wake up call to parents – we need them to talk to their children and teenagers urgently about the dangers of the railway and the impact of reckless behaviour like this.
‘Apart from the obvious danger to themselves, placing items on the tracks can potentially cause a derailment and result in serious injury and potential loss of life to passengers and rail staff.
‘We have increased patrols in the area in a bid to deter behaviour like this. Those responsible should know they will be caught and face prosecution.
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