Cable thefts cost nearly £200k in compensation
CABLE thefts delayed passenger trains in the East Midlands by a total of 103 hours in 2010-11, Network Rail has said.
The company says it had to pay out £198,26 in compensation for services delayed by the thefts.
This was up from £144,584 in 2009-10 and £120,835 in 2008-09.
Martin Frobisher, route director at Network Rail, said: "The East Midlands has recorded a slow but steady increase in these crimes and I cannot over-emphasise just how serious they are.
"We are doing everything we can to protect the railway and will continue to work closely with British Transport Police and other rail partners to do everything in our power to deter thieves and bring those who attack our network to justice."
DCI Derek O'Mara of British Transport Police said: "The railways have seen significant delays and cancellations as a result of thieves cutting and stealing signalling and power cables from the side of the track.
"But we are working to tackle the issue and in the past few months have seen significant jail sentences handed down to cable thieves put before the courts.
"We are determined to send a clear message that such attacks on our critical infrastructure are unacceptable and the police and rail industry are working together to tackle the problem."
2 Comments
by Bill Lawrenson, Keyworth
Tuesday, May 10 2011, 3:55PM
“Perhaps there needs to be much tighter control over the weighing in of "scrap" metal. No cash payments might be a start. A proper proof of identity with details recorded by the purchaser needs to be enforced and some proper policing.”
by Lesta, Lace Market
Tuesday, May 10 2011, 12:47PM
“How much of the nearly £200k paid out by Network Rail to the train operating companies reached the ticket-buying customers who had suffered the delays ?
Remember folks, that if your journey is delayed then you may be entitled to some of the ticket cost back in the form of rail vouchers. If the train is delayed due to a fault with trackside equipment (ie. Network Rail) then the train operating company that you travelled with will get some compo off Network Rail. If you, as a customer, do not put in your claim to the train operating company then they'll pocket the compo that they've received from Network Rail for the delay that YOU experienced.”