....https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-48229400 Whilst it is undoubtedly illegal and dangerous to go onto railway property there is surely a distinction in the context of this risk between being 'trackside' and 'on the tracks' Neither of the two photographs in the article (one being used by police as an example of dangerous behaviour) support the argument. People of the embankment are well away from the actual track and the two rail enthusiasts with the camera tripod have chosen a spot where the fence is slightly recessed and are far enough away from the track to be well clear of any 'vacuum effect' of passing trains. The driver claiming "it was probably the most stressful experience I have ever had" has clearly never driven an express train at high speed through crowded local commuter stations with many passengers waiting just behind the yellow lines which are no more than a metre or so from the track. It is even worse on the London underground where trains arrive at high speed often into crammed stations with people very close to the platform edge. The fact that people (usually youngsters) ARE often killed from trespassing onto the tracks or actually climbing onto trains and 'surfing' makes it understandable that Network rail are concerned but this article is surely media overreaction given that these events have happened regularly. The vast majority of people who turn out when trains like the FS are running are railway enthusisasts are well aware of the dangers of encroaching onto the tracks. As the article states no-one has been killed. EDIT: There were 337 public fatalities in 2017-18 Up 9.1% compared to 2016-17 of which 45 were non-suicide fatalities and 292 were suicide or suspected suicide fatalities. Most of the none suicide deaths were young people many of which were no doubt electrocutions form climbing onto trains etc. That is 45 fatalities and whilst each one is tragic it is hardly an epidemic. Most young people are not interested in the FS anyway.
I'm not an expert but I think you need to be about 3m from the track if the 125 is passing, the two in the second picture are within that. I don't think you would find people who work on the lines every day standing that close.
After just messaging a friend who works on the railway, he's said the sign beside them means "No Refuge" so you cannot get far enough away from passing trains.
Whilst I am one of the last people to support nanny statism I can’t see much wrong there. It’s against the law and dangerous to trespass on the railway. The fact that “ only 45 people “ were killed last year is hardly supportive. It’s perfectly possible to view trains legally and safely so no excuse for getting the wrong side of barriers and too close to the tracks.
Not quite the same but watch the numpties trying to photograph cyclists on Tour de France/Yorkshire etc
Rallying in some countries - though it's better than it was - the footage of Portugal in the Group B era is really scary, fans were literally trying to 'touch' passing cars, mental when you think these are 500bhp supercars driving on loose gravel tracks
Imagine being so pent up and angry that you get mad about the idea of not being allowed to get dangerously close to moving trains.
Our train back from Bristol last Sunday was almost an hour late getting into Sheffield because of these selfish idiots. Stuck near Lichfield for ages until the Flying Scotsman went past and the tracks were cleared. It was then announced the train would no longer be stopping at Leeds in order to try and catch some time back, which meant the Sheffield to Barnsley train was packed as all those going to Leeds got off in Sheffield and caught the local train. No doubt loads of people missed connections. Bloody nerds, you’d think they’d have more sense
Dont trespass. Simple. what if one of the 'enthusiasts' loses their footing near the track? What if someone with a tripod tries to readjust it at the wrong moment and it slips? What if....? Far too many variables. Do as you're told and stay where you are told to stay. If you don't then you're an idiot. The OP has got this completely wrong.
I like the bit where you know more about the stresses facing a train driver than an actual train driver.
Fair do's. Given the responses, particularly the supporting video by Tyketastic (no6 #) showing some people seem to have a death wish and no common sense my OP is obviously out of step with opinion and therefore wrong.
Sounds a lot . I wonder if the yellow safety lines are that far back on platforms where the 125 passes through or does it slow when passing through commuter stations. I wonder what the safe distance would be for the Freccia Rossa and Italo Trains here in Italy although they pass through 'no stop' stations on dedicated lines away from platform... Frustrating as the line runs parallel to the Autostrada from Bologna to Milano and you are bombing along in your car at about 140km/h thinking how well you are doing only for one of these thing to blast past you at up to 200 mph every few minutes. Even Regional Veloce trains are as fast as the fastest UK trains, more comfortable and reliable plus miles cheaper so why can't the UK do it
If you still believe you're correct then that's fair enough. Each to their own views. I personally don't agree with you. Regards.