RAILTRACK have launched a campaign aimed at keeping children off the railway lines during the long school summer holidays.

Last year 19 children aged 16 and under were killed on Britain's railway lines, while this year the figure already stands at 16 after just six months.

There have been more than 500 incidents of trespass and vandalism on railway lines in Merseyside in the last year. And Whiston is one of the worst affected areas with 38 reported incidents of trespass between May, 1996 and April, 1997.

Railtrack's director of Lineside Safety Aiden Nelson, said: "Every day we receive reports of children using the railway as an adventure playground. Without exception on every occasion, youngsters put themselves at risk of being hit by a train. The consequences are immediate and often fatal. The chances of a train stopping in time are virtually nil as it takes a train travelling at 125 miles per hour, one-and-a-quarter miles to stop after applying the full braking system."

And as part of efforts to crack down on trespass and vandalism on the railways, Railtrack are also urging the public to offer their support by reporting any incidents they may witness to the British Transport Police on their emergency hotline 0800 405040.

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