Statistics revealed that since the lifting of lockdown measures in July 2020 there has been a 40% rise in the number of trespass incidents across the UK rail network. Behavioural change agency 23red launched the new campaign ‘Parallel Lines’ as part of a rail safety broadcast by Network Rail’s educational partner, LearnLive, to highlight the devastating consequences of youth trespass.

Research found that teenagers were most likely to trespass. The campaign is targeted at young people that may not realise the impact on train drivers, even in cases without fatal injuries or prosecution.

To target teenagers, the campaign was shown on Crimewatch Live, online and streamed into schools on 18 March as part of a rail safety broadcast by Network Rail’s education partner, LearnLive.

The video tells the story from two different perspectives, the narrator is a teenage boy laughing about an incident where he encourages a friend to jump the tracks. The impactful film uses music to build suspense and convey the lingering fear and anxiety that trespassing can leave on railway staff. In contrast with the narrator’s light-hearted storytelling, are clips of a railway worker as he disconnects from his family and is haunted by the fear and memory of the incident.

The film is drawn from the experience of those affected by trespassing and aims to show the impact on the wider community, even if the trespasser is not harmed.

This video is part of a wider campaign led by behavioural change agency 23red called ‘You vs Train’ created by Network Rail in partnership with the British Transport Police.

The film was created with production company, Oliver’s Island, who developed the script with input from young people from Lewisham Youth Theatre.

Donna Mitchell, senior media campaigns manager at Network Rail says, “As current lockdown restrictions ease, this powerful film is crucial to get children to consider the devastating consequences of their actions. Parallel Lines highlights the impact that trespass can have, not only on the trespasser and their loved ones, but the wider, sometimes hidden harm caused to others.”

The video campaign was shot over three days last summer in Melton Mowbray and London. The partnering organisations have come together to create this well-timed campaign to target a specific audience and hopefully reduce the number of trespassing incidents as lockdown measures ease this spring.