Station comes unlucky 13th in regional rail crime poll (From Warrington Guardian)

Station comes unlucky 13th in regional rail crime poll

WINSFORD has been placed high in a league of shame that identifies the region's worst areas for railway crime.

During the past two years, the town's train station and junction have suffered 21 incidents of trespassing, two of damage to equipment, nine incidents where objects were placed on the track and eight where stones were thrown at passing trains.

This means Winsford had the 13th highest amount of criminal incidents in the north west.

County Councillor Tony Hooton described news of the town's ranking as 'very disappointing'.

Clr Hooton said: "I think the message is that trains are going so fast and so quietly that you cannot hear them coming up on you - and the West Coast Mainline is a ridiculous place to play on.

"Children should stay off the tracks and I'm amazed that they are going on them, especially given that Winsford is one of the fastest stretches in the country.

"Trains get up to 100mph on that line."

The figures were released by Network Rail to tie in with National Railway Crime Week, which aims to educate both youngsters and adults of the foolishness of playing on or taking short cuts across the tracks.

Andrew MacFarlane, chairman of the Mid Cheshire Rail Users' Association, said: "It is a concern because trains go through Winsford at a high speed.

"British Transport Police are working with Network Rail on these problems.

"I don't think Winsford is the worst place for these incidents but it is certainly up there on the table."

rfraser@guardiangrp.co.uk