You vs. Train

Stay Safe. Stay Off the Tracks.

We’ve joined forces with Network Rail and rail industry partners to launch a powerful new safety campaign aimed at tackling the rise in dangerous behaviour around the railway. The You vs. Train campaign urges people to consider the devastating consequences of ignoring railway warnings, not just for themselves, but for their families and communities. Originally launched with the story of Tom Hubbard, a young boy who suffered life-changing injuries after being electrocuted by overhead power cables, the campaign continues to highlight the real and lasting impact of unsafe choices.

Our latest powerful new safety campaign this summer aims to address the rise in unsafe behaviour around the rail network. Last year, 24 people lost their lives in preventable railway accidental (a five-year high) with five fatalities at level crossings and 19 from crossing tracks at unauthorised points. To raise awareness, two emotionally impactful films have been produced in collaboration with emergency services and film professionals. One film focuses on the emotional toll on families affected by railway injuries, while the other features an NHS trauma specialist detailing the devastating consequences of being struck by a train.

With the summer holidays approaching, the campaign urges the public to stay off the tracks, heed warning signs, and use level crossings properly, especially avoiding distractions like mobile phones. Pedestrians were involved in 457 of the 467 near misses at level crossings last year, with mobile phone use suspected as a contributing factor in many cases. Beyond the tragic loss of life, these incidents also caused over a million minutes of train delays, highlighting the broader impact of unsafe behaviour on the rail network.

Chief Inspector Adam Swallow, British Transport Police, said: “Every year, my emergency services colleagues and I are faced with the awful consequences of preventable railway accidents. And we don’t just respond, we remember too. Behind every statistic is a real person - a life needlessly lost or irreversibly changed and a family left devastated.

“The number of near misses is a stark reminder about why this campaign is so vital. These films are grounded in real-life experiences and show the terrible impact of a moment’s distraction or misjudgement.

“As the summer holidays begin and more people are out and about, including teenagers and younger children, we’re asking everyone to treat the railway with the seriousness and respect it demands; stay alert, avoid distractions, and never cross except at designated points. It could save your life, or someone else’s.

“I’d encourage people to save 61016 into their phones and text us if they need us. In an emergency always dial 999.”

Additional films, titled 'Harrison's Story', ‘Parallel Lines’ and ‘Shattered Lives’, show the impact of trespass on the wider community. They remind people that, even if they’re lucky enough to escape uninjured, their actions have consequences.