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Trespass on railway lines is more dangerous than ever with the introduction of new overhead lines for the South Wales Metro, according to Transport for Wales (TfW).
TfW and British Transport Police have warned that the introduction of Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) has increased the risk of death or serious injury for those who trespass.
The lines are live and carry 25,000 volts – the equivalent of standard household electricity 100 times over.
The first overhead line recently went live between Cardiff and Pontypridd.
Lois Park, Head of Community and Stakeholder Engagement at TfW, said: “The OLE system has been designed to keep people safe and as long as everyone respects the railway boundary and does not trespass onto the railway, they will be as safe.
“But for those who may have gotten away with trespassing on the lines in the past, the risk of serious injury and death is now significantly higher.
“Within the next two years, the whole of the Core Valleys Lines will be electrified to allow TfW to run our brand-new trains, so we are committed to working with communities to make everyone aware of the danger.”
People are advised to stay at least 2.75m away from the lines at all times and to take extra care when carrying umbrellas, helium balloons and fishing rods.
In 2022 there were more than 1,000 recorded incidents of trespass on the Core Valleys Lines, which include routes to Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney.
British Transport Police Wales and Borders Superintendent, Andrew Morgan, said: “Trespassing on the rail network is something we take extremely seriously. Not only is it illegal, but the railway is full of hidden dangers that can result in serious and life-ending consequences.
“It is also one of the biggest causes of train services being delayed across the network, with just over 200 hours of delays caused in Wales alone last year – purely because of trespass incidents.”
Suspicious behaviour can be reported to the British Transport Police by calling 0800 405040 or texting 61016.
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