Trespass-related crime caused more than 3,300 hours of delays to rail passengers in 2025/26, according to figures released by Network Rail. This equates to nearly five months of disruption and more than £10 million in delay costs for the rail sector.
Campaign to strengthen prosecutions
Network Rail is working with the British Transport Police (BTP) using drones, sensors and smart CCTV technology to identify trespassers faster and more consistently. A new campaign, Crime With Consequences, launched on Tuesday, aims to reinforce collaboration between the rail industry and police, and improve the collection of evidence to strengthen prosecutions against offenders.
The campaign will also increase the focus on victim impact statements to help show the consequences of delays caused by railway crime.
Cable theft drives disruption
The figures showed cable theft alone caused more than 2,100 hours of delays, with delay costs doubling to £6.8 million in 2025/26. Thefts can damage signalling mechanisms and overhead wires, resulting in potentially lengthy delays for both passengers and freight services.
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.
Incident numbers and regional hotspots
Separate figures showed 1,072 vandalism, obstruction and cable theft incidents were recorded in 2025/26, down slightly from 1,197 the previous year. The North and East route, which runs across Yorkshire, the North East and the Pennines, topped the list with 150 incidents logged last year, followed by the North West route with 123 incidents and the Wessex line with 102 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. 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.
Officials warn of serious risks
BTP Superintendent Darren Malpas said railway crime “put lives at risk”, adding anyone trespassing or trying to steal cable “risks serious injury or death”. Rail minister Lord Hendy said: “Trespassing causes delay and frustration for thousands of passengers every year and stops people going about their daily lives.”
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.” Lord Hendy added: “Make no mistake, offenders will be brought to justice quickly, helping to reduce disruption across the network and keep passengers moving.”
