Unsightly graffiti in Southport is being removed as part of Network Rail’s war on railway vandalism.
The clean-up of this stretch of the Merseyrail network supports Transport Secretary Grant Shapps’ recent commitment to improve the look and feel of the railway.
Network Rail workers from the Liverpool team spent six hours painting over substations and electrical cabinets in Southport, which are repeatedly targeted by vandals.
Allan Gibbs-Monaghan, infrastructure delivery manager at Network Rail, said: “Cleaning up vandalised walls and areas will improve the look and feel of the rail network and will, we hope, help to restore people’s confidence as we work to win back passengers. Our goal is to make sure everybody using the railway feels safe and comfortable.
“And our message to graffiti vandals is to stay away from the railway, not least for your own safety. Fast-moving trains can be very dangerous.”
Chris Heaton-Harris MP, Rail minister, said: “We’ve been clear that the blight of graffiti on our railways must be tackled, and I am delighted to see Network Rail are focused on dealing with the problem.
“As we build back better removing graffiti across the North West will improve our railway and make stations and services more pleasant for passengers.”
Earlier this year Network Rail allocated an additional £1 million towards a graffiti blitz on top of its annual £3.5million of anti-vandalism measures. Highways England has also undertaken a lockdown clean-up, removing 33 per cent more graffiti along roads compared to the same time last year.
Trespassing on the railway and committing acts of vandalism with graffiti is a crime. Incidents of graffiti can be reported to Network Rail’s 24-hour national helpline on 03457 11 41 41.
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