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Manx youngsters dice with death

Scaffolding poles and a wheelbarrow have been left on the tracks near Hills Meadow Industrial Estate, while drivers have also reported incidents of stones being thrown at moving trains.

 PC Christie Morgan said: “Safety is paramount and these incidents are of great concern to us and Isle of Man Public Transport.

“We know the stone-throwing incident was young children because they were seen by train drivers and we want to give warning that patrols in the area will be increased and appropriate action taken against anyone caught committing acts of vandalism.”

Public Transport Chief Engineer Peter Maddocks said: "The railway is a very dangerous place and people should not assume that just because a train is travelling slowly that it wouldn’t cause serious injury if suddenly brought to a halt.

“A full train weighs up to 150 tonnes. They have a basic Victorian braking system so people should not under estimate how long it takes to stop.

“Unfortunately, we frequently see trespassers on the lines, using it as a pathway or taking a short cut, which is dangerous and against the law, so we welcome the police action. The safety of children and trespassers is of great concern as well as the risk of injury to our passengers and staff.”

PC Rob Lewis, who is investigating the incidents, said: "Fortunately the recent
incident of dumping scaffolding on the line was spotted by an observant driver who was able to stop in time. The concern is the potential injury to drivers and passengers if this illegal activity continues and the train is brought to a sudden stop.

“We are appealing to parents to ensure they know where their children are playing. We also ask people to report any suspicious activity or trespassing on railway
lines to police.”