Pupils accused of rail trespass (BBC News)
 

A heritage railway company says school children are repeatedly trespassing on the line and damaging property.

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Perhaps if one of the pupils falls and gets hurt, then the school will do something about it and not just word wise. They might get somebody to patrol there instead of drinking tea/coffee.

It happens alot up there, I've seen it myself, most people don't take care when crossing the line, legally, or illegally, most people consider 'small trains' harmless. I wouldn't want to get knocked down by one though!

It's only a matter of time before some teenager gets mowed down and the family complain about a lack of fencing in place, fencing which said teenager removed!

Curiously a lot of people, not just young people , think the train should give way to them! From personel experience at welshpool and chasewater racing or challenging the train is a sport.
Richard

At shildon its more a case of 'how many stones can I throw at it as it passes'
One way of curing this when they are on the bridge is

1. Shut off as we approach

2. Put a round on

3. As the chimney passes beneath them, open the regulator

Soon gets them running :D

Unfortunately there is a famous landmark Health & Safety related legal judgement called British Rail Board v Herrington that was pretty much exactly the same as this very situation. Welsh Highland would do well to dig out a copy and read it as they almost certainly have a duty of care to the young trespassers if they know about the problem with the fence. :(

I suspect that they may need to spend the money on a security fence..........

Unfortunately very true. It's the company that will suffer even though someone was trespassing. There was a case once about a building site which although fenced was constantly being vandalised until someone was killed falling off a half constructed house. The firm were held liable for not ensuring fencing was adequate despite it being torn down at every turn.