A new campaign, Crime With Consequences, launched on Tuesday, will reinforce collaboration between the rail industry and police, and improve the collection of evidence to strengthen prosecutions against offenders.
asserted
campaign → launch → offenders
It will also increase the focus on victim impact statements to help show the consequences of delays caused by railway crime.
asserted
It → increase → crime
Figures released by Network Rail showed trespass-related crime caused more than 3,300 hours, or nearly five months, of delays to rail passengers in 2025/26.
asserted
crime → release → 2025/26
This caused more than £10 million in delay costs for the rail sector.
asserted
This → cause → sector
These costs correspond to the amount of money Network Rail provides to train operators to compensate for delays related to its tracks.
asserted
Rail → correspond → tracks
The figures showed cable theft alone caused more than 2,100 hours of delays and delay costs doubled to £6.8 million in 2025/26.
asserted
costs → show → 2025/26
Thefts can damage signalling mechanisms and overhead wires, resulting in potentially lengthy delays for both passengers and freight services.
asserted
Thefts → damage → passengers
Network Rail said trespass was one of the railway’s biggest causes of disruption and could have a significant impact on train performance, passengers, freight, railway staff and communities.
uncertain
trespass → say → performance
BTP Superintendent Darren Malpas said railway crime “put lives at risk”, adding anyone trespassing or trying to steal cable “risks serious injury or death”.
asserted
anyone → say → injury
Read More
Separate figures showed 1,072 vandalism, obstruction and cable theft incidents were recorded in 2025/26, down slightly from 1,197 the previous year.
asserted
incidents → read → 1,197
It was followed by the North West route with 123 incidents and the Wessex line with 102 incidents.
asserted
It → follow → incidents
Network Rail has introduced measures to tackle trespass-related crime, including the use of hidden trespass beads in its cables in the North West to track down offenders.
asserted
Rail → introduce → offenders
It also committed a £110,000 investment earlier in September to tackle cable theft, vandalism and trespass on the East Coast Main Line through more security patrols.
asserted
It → commit → patrols
The use of drones, sensors and CCTV across the network has also helped the organisation and police to identify and catch offenders.
asserted
organisation → help → offenders
Anit Chandarana, director for system operator at Network Rail, said: “Behind every one of these delays caused by railway crime is someone not being able to get home to their family, another person late to a job interview, or food stuck on its way to a supermarket shelf.
asserted
being → say → shelf
“Cable theft, vandalism and obstruction aren’t victimless crimes, they’re crimes against the millions of people who rely on the rail network every day.
asserted
who → ’re → network
“The rail industry is working more closely than ever with the BTP, using new technology, from concealed tracking devices to smart CCTV, to detect offences more quickly and support investigations.
asserted
industry → work → investigations
“This campaign is a clear warning that anyone who commits crime on the railway risks facing serious consequences for their actions.”
asserted
who → commit → actions
Mr Malpas added: “Cable theft and associated railway crimes like trespass aren’t victimless offences.
asserted
theft → add → trespass
“They put lives at risk, cause significant disruption to passengers and freight services, and cost the rail industry millions of pounds every year, which ultimately ends up costing the public more.
asserted
which → put → more
“This important campaign highlights both the dangers and consequences of criminal activity on the rail network.
asserted
campaign → highlight → network
“Those involved must understand that railway infrastructure is extremely dangerous.
asserted
infrastructure → involve → ?
“Anyone trespassing on the railway or attempting to steal cable risks serious injury or death.”
asserted
Anyone → trespass → injury
Rail minister Lord Hendy said: “Trespassing causes delay and frustration for thousands of passengers every year and stops people going about their daily lives.
asserted
Trespassing → say → lives
“Anyone doing this on the railway is also putting themselves at serious risk of injury or death.”
asserted
Anyone → do → injury
He added: “Make no mistake, offenders will be brought to justice quickly, helping to reduce disruption across the network and keep passengers moving.”
asserted
offenders → add → passengers
The Aporia
