Lives put at risk as vandals dump bin and bike on tracks

TRAINS crashed into a wheelie bin and a mountain bike in separate incidents in the Lothians after vandals left them blocking the railway tracks.

The incidents sparked warnings from the British Transport Police (BTP) over the potentially "dire" consequences of placing obstructions on the lines.

In the first incident, a passenger train struck a mountain bike placed deliberately on the railway line near the station at Livingston North. The early morning train was undamaged in the collision and was able to complete its journey.

Two days later, the window of a train travelling between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh Waverley stations was broken when it struck a wheelie bin placed on the line at Winchburgh. No-one was injured in the smash.

A Dunblane-bound train from Edinburgh had struck the wheelie bin shortly before.

BTP chiefs said the summer holidays were a time when incidents such as stone throwing, putting obstructions on tracks, trespassing and vandalism all increased.

Inspector Sue Maxwell, of BTP, said: "Unfortunately at this time of year we tend to see an increase in route crime offences reported.

"The foolish individuals who trespass, place obstructions on the line, throw stones at passing trains or vandalise the railway infrastructure put themselves and others in great danger."

The mountain bike collision took place at around 9am on Sunday, July 10 while the wheelie bin incident occurred at around the same time on Tuesday, July 12.

Councillor Frank Anderson, West Lothian Council's community services leader, said: "Clearly, playing near railways is extremely dangerous and there seems to have been a spate of vandalism issues across Scotland. The incident on July 10 could have caused a serious accident and potentially loss of life. We would urge parents and carers to make the time to warn their children and teens about the dangers and to urge them to stay away from the railway."

The incidents in West Lothian were among a number of vandal attacks on railways in Scotland in recent weeks.

On July 10, a train struck a shopping trolley between Dunfermline and Rosyth stations.

Children, believed to be aged as young as six or seven, were seen on the railway line near Wishaw station on July 12, shortly before the driver of the Milngavie to Lanark service reported striking a metal bed frame in the same area.

A BTP spokesman said: "We are appealing to anyone with information on any of these recent incidents to come forward."

In July 2009 a train had to be taken out of service after its brakes were severed when it smashed into a wheelie bin between Livingston North and Uphall railway stations.That was followed in the same week by a second attack at the same location when youths threw bottles which smashed against a passing train.

In December 2009, a shopping trolley placed on the line damaged a train just outside Musselburgh station, resulting in an oil leakage and delays for dozens of passengers.