EAST Lothian youngsters are being warned not to trespass on train tracks after a rise in the dangerous practice.

In three years, there has been an 18 per cent rise in the number of reports of trespass by children over the summer across the UK.

Figures show that longer evenings, coupled with the school holidays, mean young people are twice as likely to trespass on the lines at this time of year than in the winter.

Over the past 10 years, almost 170 young people in the UK have lost their lives after trespassing on the railway. The data shows that just under half of those killed are under the age of 25.

Mark Henderson, senior community safety manager from Network Rail, said: “We are urging parents to remind their children that if they are on the railway, they are on dangerous ground. It may seem like a good idea to take a shortcut, or like fun to play on the tracks, but this is not only illegal, it is also dangerous.

“Britain has the safest railway in Europe but still too many people lose their lives on the tracks.

"As the railway gets busier and we electrify more lines to improve services, we must work harder to keep young people safe by making them aware of the dangers that exist.

"Taking a short cut or messing around on the tracks can result in serious life-changing injuries or death.”

Seventy-two per cent of all trespassers who died over the last 10 years were struck by a train. Another 17 per cent were electrocuted. The others fell from structures or trains.

Most trespassers highlight taking a short cut (42 per cent) as their main motivation for committing the crime, followed by thrill-seeking (19 per cent).

In response to the seasonal surge in incidents, officers from British Transport Police are stepping up patrols across the region.

Ch Insp Dave Marshall, who is responsible for BTP’s response to trespass in Scotland, said: “The last thing our officers want to do is knock on someone’s door to tell a parent their child has been killed or seriously injured as a result of trespassing.

“We’re doing all we can to keep young people safe by patrolling areas where we know they’re likely to trespass and prevent them from doing so. However, we cover thousands of miles of track and we cannot tackle this issue alone.

“That is why we are urging parents and young people to heed this warning and take a reality check when it comes to trespass. It’s not a game: they are real tracks, with real trains and real life consequences.

“In addition to patrols, we’ve also created a series of videos aimed at warning of the dangers of trespass to deter people from endangering their lives by going on the lines."