Rob Sigrist
Senior Risk & Safety Intelligence Analyst, RSSB
RSSB’s latest Annual Health and Safety Report (AHSR) paints a clear picture of the industry’s health and safety performance for 2024/25. Take an even closer look at the data and you’ll see a compelling social sustainability story, too.
Consider the figures on trespassing. From April 2024 to March 2025, 17 people tragically died while trespassing on the network—an increase of seven compared to the previous year. This sobering upward movement is consistent with a post-pandemic pattern we’ve seen, with trespass events being higher than they were before 2020.
For four consecutive years now, our analysts have observed more than 14,000 trespass incidents recorded annually. This marks a notable rise from the 12,839 incidents recorded in 2018/19, before the pandemic.
Of course, this data underscores safety concerns that the AHSR has flagged for several years. The unnerving reality is that more people are placing themselves in grave danger on or near the tracks, risking both serious injury and death. And the loss of those 17 lives—the highest since 2019/20—is a poignant reminder of the consequences.
But there’s also a social sustainability dimension to these trespass incidents. For many, the network has tremendous social value, acting as a lifeline that provides safe access to opportunities, activities, and the people they love. Yet for others, it can be a shortcut to a location or to something darker, with deeply harmful outcomes for themselves, their families, and their wider community.
A more rounded response
To address this safety risk, we’ve got to understand the communities we serve and work closely with them. In recent years, Network Rail and British Transport Police have taken a commendable community-oriented approach to raising awareness of the dangers of trespass through their You vs. Train campaign, which targets young people.
The campaign seeks to change attitudes towards trespassing and, ultimately, prevent this life-risking behaviour through impactful films, personal stories, educational school assemblies, and tailored resources for parents and teachers.
For me, initiatives like this squeeze every bit of value out of safety data. Safety data becomes a powerful tool that informs how organisations help create safer communities where people are equipped to make lasting positive change in their own lives and the lives of those around them.
Given the significant impact trespass also has on rail operations, a more rounded response is clearly needed. The latest AHSR data shows that over the past five years, delay minutes caused by trespassing have risen sharply. In 2024/25 alone, trespass incidents resulted in 1.2 million minutes of delay, a 31% increase on last year and a striking 50% rise compared to 2018/19. The direct financial impact of these delays in 2024/25 is estimated to exceed £73 million.
So, as you read through the latest AHSR, reflect on what the data might be telling you about the problems, needs, and experiences in the communities you serve. I’ve picked on trespass in this article, but the report addresses several other risk areas identified by the Rail Health and Safety Strategy. By viewing these risks through a social sustainability lens, I truly believe we can uncover fresh insights to shape strategies that not only enhance safety and performance but also build better relationships between rail and local people.
Industry is setting a new standard
It’s heartening to see how RSSB and our industry partners are making strides in this direction, especially with the launch of the Trespass and Suicide One-Stop Shop. The centralised platform provides access to research, data, guidance, and best practice for rail organisations. But it also elevates the social sustainability perspective, bringing together campaigns, educational resources, and community partnerships that help us connect more meaningfully with our communities.
Building community beyond our boundaries is vital for reducing railway trespass. These relationships enable targeted education, inspire local ownership and pride, empower young people to influence their friends, and encourage community-led solutions. If we cultivate trust and shared responsibility, giving communities a voice in the railway, I’m sure we’ll see the trespass figures go down and operational performance go up.