AN urgent warning is being issued to young people to keep of the rail lines of the Cowdenbeath-Lochgelly area. as figures show trespass is on the rise.

The track linking Lochgelly and Cowdenbeath has regularly been targeted by youngsters, especially near Lochgelly Golf Club, as an area for 'fun'. But it could have a fatal end.

In the three years, there has been an 18% rise in the number of reports of trespass by children in Scotland over the summer.

Longer evenings, coupled with the school holidays, spell danger as statistics show young people are twice as likely to trespass at this time of year than in the winter.

This summer, British Transport Police and Network Rail are urging parents to warn their children of the dangers of playing on the tracks.

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, explained: “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.” Figures show that 72% of all trespassers who died over the last 10 years were struck by a train. Another 17% were electrocuted and others fell from structures or trains.

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

Ch Insp Dave Marshall, who is responsible for BTP’s response to trespass in Scotland, said: “We’re doing all we can to keep young people safe by patrolling areas where we know they’re likely to trespass, 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."