Network Rail No Messin’ campaign urges Lambeth teens off the rails

Train bosses are calling for Lambeth teens not to risk their lives or the lives of others on the tracks - after shots were fired, and bricks hurled at trains last year by suspects believed to be disaffected youths.

Dozens of teens also risked their lives trespassing on train lines and “playing chicken” with speeding trains, according to Network Rail.

A worrying list of incidents in and around the borough’s stations has been released by the rail provider as it launched its 2009 campaign to stop young people putting lives at risk on the railway.

A Network Rail spokesman said: “The No Messin’ campaign aims to get kids to do something positive with their lives rather than put their lives at risk by trespassing onto the tracks, and endangering other people by causing hazards for speeding trains.”

In 2008 a firework was fired in West Norwood station, smashing a train window, and shots were fired twice at trains by Gipsy Hill and Streatham stations, again smashing windows.

A bike was thrown on to the tracks in front of an oncoming train in Streatham Hill, and a brick thrown at a train in Crystal Palace.

The spokesman said: “What is just as much a concern is the number of kids who trespass on to the tracks to play chicken with trains, or spray grafitti.

“They could electrocute themselves or get hit by the train, and in both circumstances there is only going to be one winner.”

The campaign involves the rail provider funding youth groups and community organisations, to provide opportunities to get young people off the tracks - and on to the right track.

Lambeth boxing club Fitzroy Lodge is the latest to benefit from the scheme, receiving new boxing equipment.

Champion boxer Amir Khan, who is fronting the campaign, said: “Young people need to know that messing about on the tracks is not what earns them respect.”

There were 1,060 recorded incidents of trespass and 412 incidents of vandalism in Greater London in 2008.

Streatham, Croydon, Sutton and Wandsworth railway stations to get £5.5m ticket gates

Fourteen railway stations across southwest London are to benefit from a £5.5m scheme to install new ticket gates and ticket machines.
The stations, Streatham, Streatham Hill, Streatham Common, Tulse Hill, Gipsy Hill and West Norwood, will be updated as part of a £15bn investment in the national rail network designed to improve passenger safety and security.
Gates are also planned at eight other stations: Peckham Rye, Purley, Thornton Heath, Norbury, Wallington, South Croydon, Carshalton and Battersea Park.
Passenger fears increased after the 2006 murder of Tom ap Rhys Pryce as he left an unmanned station at Kensal Green.
Transport minister Lord Adonis said: "At first the gates will be staffed when operational but from next year they will be staffed for 15 hours a day. This scheme marks the first stages of improvements to station staffing that will be delivered from early 2010."
Anthony Smith, chief executive of Passenger Focus, the rail watchdog, said: "One of the key advantages of installing gates is that they must be supervised and therefore staff are present and visible at the station.
"Passengers tell us that they feel safer when there are staff around and it also means they can ask advice about their journey and easily seek out help."

Boris' new year present to bus users

Tory London Mayor Boris Johnson has hit public transport users hard by massively increasing fares.

Labour's London Assembly transport spokesperson, Val Shawcross AM, slammed the decision. She said: "This unnecessary, above inflation fare hike is going to hit the pocket of every Londoner hard and makes a complete mockery of the Mayor's promise to provide value for money.

"Boris Johnson has given us no evidence whatsoever for his claim that there is a transport finance blackhole. What the evidence does point to is an increase in passenger numbers and revenue in TfL's coffers. If anything there should be a surplus this year, as there was in previous years. For Boris to blame his predecessor for this fare hike is nothing more than a cheap political shot.

"If the Mayor genuinely is concerned about the fares budget then he should have thought twice about abolishing the £25 higher charge for gas guzzlers and should reconsider his expensive plans to replace the bendy bus. It's strange to say the least that Boris is consulting about the future of the Western extension of the congestion charge but hasn't seen fit to consult Londoners on this fare hike which will hit all passengers hard. It just smacks of playing political games with London's transport network".

Example fare rises (from January 2009)

BUS
* Single bus fare was: 90p
* From January: £1
This 10% rise will affect around 1.3 million Londoners

TUBE
* Single Tube journey was: £2
* From January: £2.20
A 10% rise