Train operator London North Eastern Railway (LNER) has revealed a stark reminder of the reality of trespassing on the railway.

At the Eldon Square shopping centre in Newcastle, it has created a moving and thought-provoking installation with an empty child’s bedroom, called The Waiting Room

It shows a room that has been left and never returned to, because of the loss of life while trespassing on the railway tracks.

It is a situation that has been the reality for many families, and the display is designed to make passers by think of the risks of trespassing, and will hopefully encourage parents to talk to their children about the dangers of the railways.

Statistics from LNER show that 25% of 12-17 year olds know someone who trespasses on the railway. With one in 10 saying the most likely reason is to take a selfie in a dangerous place or from peer pressure or boredom.

The Waiting Room will be on display in the shopping centre until the 3rd of August.

Warrick Dent, Safety and Operations Director at LNER said: “As lockdown restrictions come to an end and the school holidays begin, it’s our aim to do as much as we can to protect our customers, colleagues, and communities from trespassing incidents on our route. As a parent, I understand that it’s a difficult topic to broach but the numbers show that it’s an important one to tackle. Railway track trespassing is a very real threat that needlessly kills those who risk their lives, and our research identified more needs to be done to educate people and encourage open conversations between parents, guardians, and their children. Children are set to spend more time at home during the summer holidays and often are at risk of boredom, therefore we hope our installation makes parents stop and think, prompting them to speak to their children about the dangers of trespassing on the railway and in turn preventing the loss of lives.”

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