Seppo Mikkonen, Regional Manager of the railway network in eastern Finland says they are aware of the phenomenon.
“Train conductors have filed reports about young people posing for photos in different positions and loitering on the tracks.” Mikkonen says the trend is apparent in several areas of the country.
Several near misses have already occurred. “It has been a matter of just one or two meters, when kids in front of a train have just barely got out of the way in time.” says Mikkonen.
He warns young people that they are really putting their lives on the line. “Even though you can hear the train approach and we sound the horn, the train is there in just a matter of seconds and after that, it’s too late.”
The idea that anyone could easily dodge an oncoming train is deceiving. “It is so easy to lose your step, there are several unpleasant examples. A few years ago a girl in Varkaus slipped, making for sad news for everyone at Christmas time,” recalls Mikkonen.
A thrill-seeker lying down on the tracks would also not likely be able to get up and off the tracks quickly. “The electric wires are also very hazardous. Even though the structures are clearly marked with warning signs, people are always climbing on them.”
Unfortunately, in those areas where fences have been built, paths have sprung up around the barriers in less than two hours. As personal safety is the number one priority for transport authorities, an educational campaign about the railway track safety has already been initiated.
“Safety information will be given in all areas where such incidents have been reported, as well as in schools located near railway tracks, like the capital city region and along the Kerava-Lahti line," says Mikkonen.
