First Hull Trains has joined a national campaign to combat cable theft in an attempt to eradicate tens of millions of pounds in losses and huge delays associated with what has become one of the industry’s biggest and most costly crimes.
The company has written to Baroness Browning, the Minister of State for Crime Prevention and Anti-Social Behaviour Reduction, underlining the effects that organised metal theft is having on UK rail operations and more specifically what the consequences have been for the company and its customers in the last three years.
Cable theft crime has grown considerably over recent years due to the continuing rise in the price of scrap metal.
The direct correlation of the price of copper and the rate of theft has caused a financial loss to the rail industry of £43 million in addition to 16,000 hours of passenger delays over the past three years.
Cath Bellamy, First Hull Trains’ Managing Director, said:
“The impact of cable theft on our business is considerable. We have lost the equivalent of 10 full days services due to disruption and cancellations in the last three years, costing us approximately £650,000 and delaying thousands of customers.
“Clearly this is unacceptable to us and to those who get caught up in delays and cancellations associated with this huge problem.”
The rail industry has attempted to diminish the level of cable theft through the implementation of covert CCTV, burying cables, the invisible marking of cables, gluing cables in place and the use of trembler alarms.
It has also worked with the British Transport Police and high profile media campaigns such as Crime Watch to educate people about cable theft.
However, these actions are still not enough to eradicate cable theft entirely, which is why First Hull Trains has joined all national railway companies to support the initiative behind the letter to Baroness Browning.
Cath added, “We intend to throw our weight behind this important campaign which aims to reduce cable theft in the UK and continue to ensure commitment to the cause by securing the support needed across-government to make progress on this issue.”
First Hull Trains is one of 22 passenger train operating companies and six freight operating companies encouraged by the Association of Train Operating Companies to participate in this important campaign.
