‘Don’t put your life at risk’ urges councillor

The representative made the call after NI Railways revealed it has recorded 28 incidents of trespassing on the Larne Line which passes through the borough.

Mr Robinson said: “The new trains are almost silent and the rails do not make the click-clacking you would expect.

“I would urge people not to consider it. It is too much of a danger and to cross any railway line is putting your life in danger.

“It is a chance and it could be the last chance you ever take,” he warned.

Lynda Shannon, communications manager for Translink revealed that many of the trespassers were adults and one was a senior citizen.

“Safety, while always at the top of the agenda for Translink, particularly comes to the fore at this time of year,” she said.

“While we always appeal for parents and carers to remind young people to stay away from tracks, they are not the only ones who decide to use the rail network as a shortcut.

“Sometimes people don’t think about what they could be up against if a train came along at the wrong minute.

“When you take into consideration that the fastest man in the world, Usain Bolt, can cover just over 10 metres per second, while one of our trains travelling at 90 miles per hour covers 40 metres per second, it’s clear that when it comes to man versus train, there’s no contest.”

She added: “The impacts of trespassing range from delays to services on the line where a trespasser has been reported, which can severely impact passengers, through to the risk of serious injury or death.

“Our trains have CCTV both inside and out and there are cameras located around the network which clearly captures footage of trespassers.”

As well as a danger to life trespassers risk a heavy fine and possible conviction.