UK train misery as vandals ruin journeys for millions of passengers

Vandals are making train journeys a misery for millions and costing a fortune in compensation for hold-ups and cancellations. Figures show there were almost 4,000 incidents of vandalism affecting services over the past three years - an average of 25 a week. These included yobs throwing items at trains or dropping objects from bridges. Payouts to delayed passengers are estimated to have cost £7.3million in the past three years.

Trains have also been halted due to seats and toilets being vandalised, with obscene graffiti sprayed on windows meaning some had to be taken out of service. The dangers were highlighted earlier this year when objects were hurled at trains from a bridge above a 120mph railway line near Loughborough station, in Leicestershire.

The first incident saw a scooter and rocks thrown, then a few days later builders' waste and more rocks were dropped from the bridge. In one of the attacks the window of the locomotive was smashed, triggering a series of delays to services. Earlier this year there were also attacks between Cambridge and Cambridge North stations where drivers reported being fired on by someone with a BB gun.

Figures from Network Rail show in the past three years there were 3,861 incidents where services had been affected by vandalism.

These affected 10,939 services, with 2,665 trains being cancelled - 1,559 of which never left their departure station. Railway expert Christian Wolmar, presenter of podcast Calling All Stations, said: "This is not a problem about the railways, it is about the breakdown of law and order, and the cutbacks made to police and youth work."

A spokesman for British Transport Police said: "Vandalism is not a victimless crime, it has severe consequences for passengers alongside huge financial implications for the rail industry. We will continue to treat graffiti and vandalism on the railway for what it is - wanton criminal damage. We urge anyone who witnesses vandalism or criminal damage taking place to report it to us."

And a Network Rail spokesperson said: "The penalties for offenders are severe, from life-changing injuries to life imprisonment. We work closely with the BTP and have introduced our own extra security measures, resulting in more criminals being caught and prosecuted. Our message is very clear - stay off the tracks."