Greater Anglia’s Suffolk stations including Beccles, Lowestoft, Saxmundham and Ipswich Derby Road to gain new trespassing deterrents

Greater Anglia will install new security measures at 13 of its Suffolk stations after it was revealed trespassing incidents caused more than 19 days’ worth of delays.

The new infrastructure – including more fencing, gates and witches’ hats (rubber spikes on the grounds of the track) – is designed to keep people off the rails after 476 hours of delays and 843 cancellations between January 7 and November 9 due to incursions this year.

Stations including Beccles, Brampton, Ipswich Derby Road, Darsham, Halesworth, Lowestoft, Melton, Oulton Broad North, Oulton Broad South, Saxmundham, Somerleyton, Wickham Market and Woodbridge will benefit from the new deterrents.

It is expected the work will be complete by early Spring.

Matt Wakefield, head of safety, security and sustainability at Greater Anglia, said: “I would like to remind people that the railway is not a playground.

“People should never go on the tracks without permission – anyone who accesses the track without permission is risking their life and the lives of others.

“Safety is our top priority on the railway. These measures are designed to help keep people off the tracks and remain in a safe place.”

Mr Wakefield added anyone who sees someone on the tracks who should not be there should alert rail staff or dial 999 in an emergency.

Greater Anglia works with Samaritans, which offers training to all railway staff across the nation.

Team members at the operator have taken part in the course which teaches them how to recognise someone who may be vulnerable, how to approach them and start a conversation.

Greater Anglia also sponsors 150 schools to participate in the ‘Rail Safe Friendly’ initiative, delivered by Learn Live in partnership with the Trespass Improvement Team at Network Rail, which educates young people in schools on the dangers of trespassing on the railway.

So far, the operator’s support has seen 78 more schools join the programme, reaching 50,358 young people.