Drones catch teens lying down on railway track

TWO teenagers have been spotted lying down on a railway track as a train operator cracks down on trespassing.

- By ABIGAIL NICHOLSON

Northern is using drones to protect young people who put their lives at risk on the railway during the school holidays.

Northern, Network Rail and British Transport Police (BTP) have been working together to keep people off the tracks on the Durham Coast Line and the Bishop Line.

Railway staff took action after spikes in trespassing and anti-social behaviour during the school holidays on these two routes, in locations including Billingham, Heighington and Stockton.

Throughout the two-week Easter holiday last month, staff from Northern and Network Rail and BTP officers patrolled the routes on trains and in cars so they could respond to incidents quickly. In hotspot areas, Network Rail also deployed drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras, allowing them to locate offenders and remove them from the rail line.