More than 140 dangerous incidents near railways around Reading have been recorded in the last year, prompting Network Rail to call for greater caution around railway lines. 

In the last 12 months, Reading station and surrounding railways saw 16 incidents of trespass, three incidents of vandalism and one concern for welfare call. 

Reading West had 13 trespass incidents and one fatality. 

Deaths were also recorded near Hungerford, Pangbourne, Tilehurst, and the Thatcham level crossing.

The new figures follow the release of shocking video footage that captured individuals gambling with their lives at crossings across the Wessex region, including some sites in Berkshire.  

The Wessex route including Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire, Dorset, Deveon, Somerset and Wiltshire, reported 466 cases of misuse and 28 near misses last year.

Two Berkshire hotspots - Wokingham's Star Lane and Englemere near Ascot -  documented 27 and 12 incidents respectively.

Ahead of the summer holidays, Network Rail is calling on parents to ensure  ensure that their children are aware of the dangers of playing on or near the railway and that they know how to use level crossings safely. 

READ MORE: Long closure of Reading station passageway slammed

Andy Phillips, Network Rail programme manager for route crime, said:  “Incidents of trespass on the railway cause issues for everyone using the network, where an individual could sustain life-changing injuries and in the worst-case scenario, loss of life.  

“It is disappointing to see young people ignoring the dangers of level crossings.

"We are proactively working with British Transport Police to make people aware of these dangers and measures have been put in place to tackle the issue, including additional signage and gates, installing cameras, and hosting educational events.  

He added: "Anyone who witnesses any trespass incidents is encouraged to report what they’ve seen to BTP via the text service on 61016.” 

Below are the full figures for dangerous incidents near railways across Reading: 

READING

Trespass 16

Vandalism 3

Concern for welfare 1

TOTAL 20

 

KINTBURY

Level crossing 15

Trespass 1

TOTAL 16

 

READING WEST

Trespass 13

Fatality related 1

TOTAL 14

 

KINTBURY LEVEL CROSSING

Level crossing 11

Trespass 1

TOTAL 12

 

THATCHAM

Trespass 7

Level crossing 2

Concern for welfare 1

TOTAL 10

 

HUNGERFORD

Level crossing 5

Trespass 4

Fatality related 1

TOTAL 10

 

PANGBOURNE

Trespass 6

Fatality related 1

Vandalism 1

TOTAL 8

 

THATCHAM LEVEL CROSSING

Level crossing 4

Fatality related 1

Trespass 1

TOTAL 6

 

TILEHURST

Trespass 3

Fatality related 1

Vandalism 1

TOTAL 5

 

NEWBURY

Trespass 4

Concern for welfare 1

TOTAL 5

 

TWYFORD

Trespass 3

Vandalism 1

TOTAL 4

 

THEALE

Trespass 3

Vandalism 1

TOTAL 4

 

WIDMEADS LEVEL CROSSING

Trespass 2

Fatality related 1

Vandalism 1

TOTAL 4

 

COLTHROP LEVEL CROSSING

Level crossing 3

Trespass 1

TOTAL 4

 

COLTHROP

Level crossing 4

TOTAL 4

 

KENNET BRIDGE READING

Trespass 3

TOTAL 3

 

WICKHAM KNIGHTS LEVEL CROSSING

Level crossing 1

Trespass 1

Vandalism 1

TOTAL 3

 

CALCOT MILL LEVEL CROSSING

Trespass 2

Vandalism 1

TOTAL 3