Goodbye to trespassers; the anti-trespass panel goes off-track - voestalpine Track Solutions Netherlands B.V.

16 November 2020 |

Walking alongside and in the tracks is extremely dangerous. Unfortunately, people do this every day. That is why in recent years, serious efforts have been made to make railway lines as inaccessible as possible. Many products have already been in the market for quite some time. However, we recently added our newest innovation to our assortment. A new version of the anti-trespass mat with higher and alternating spikes. By placing these panels all around the tracks, trespassers are discouraged to enter the tracks.

The PRISMA OffTrack panel is an extended version of the already existing anti-trespass mat

The first model of this mat with vertical spikes (the PRISMA OnTrack mat or the anti-trespass mat) is placed within the track, hence called the ‘on track’ variant. This type is used to prevent people from entering the railway at level crossings. The spikes discourage and deter people from entering and walking on the tracks. The panel does not come into contact with the train. That is why the spikes have a maximum height. However, this is not the case with our newest product.

From discouraging to making entering impossible

The newest model, named the ‘PRISMA OffTrack’, has vertical spikes that are twice as high as the original model. These high alternating spikes are so intimidating that any trespasser will immediately be discouraged from entering the track. The mat has been designed to be positioned around the tracks where it cannot cause inconvenience for the train traffic, thus ‘off track’. The profile of the free space (the space kept free so that the train can run without disruption) makes it impossible to close off the railway hermetically with fences. This means that people can still walk around. By combining the fencing structure with the ‘PRISMA OffTrack’, the unsafe walking route becomes inaccessible, thereby significantly reducing the number of trespassers. Additionally, the ‘PRISMA OffTrack’ panel can be attached to the OnTrack mat. The same modular fastening system can be used when connecting the mats seamlessly together.

For the UK, the new PRISMA OffTrack panel is the perfect solution

In the UK, railway platforms slope downwards, into the railway. This makes it very easy to cross the tracks, and has led to much disruption and unsafe situations. This location is where the new mat offers the perfect solution. Tests on several platforms have shown that the product has the desired effect! This resulted in the go-ahead for further rolling out the installation of the PRISMA panel as part of the platform safety project.

Multiple applications possible

Railway locations are not the only places that need to be secured. Another example are (construction) sites, airports or borders where fences or warning signs are not enough to discourage people to enter. Perhaps you have heard or read about illegal open air parties at building sites in the Netherlands. A large number of people were present at the site, and police interference was needed to end the party.

And what about borders or other facilities where unauthorized persons enter outside opening hours? Extending the existing fence structure with the mats will no longer make it possible for people to climb over.

Are you having problems with uninvited guests that enter your railway trajectory or construction site? And would you like to know more about our Prisma OFFTrack panels? Please contact us and let’s discuss all possibilities!

Product specifications

This product has been realized in cooperation with Hird Rail Development Ltd and the British railinfra-owner Network Rail with the aim to deal with the issue of trespassers at railway platforms.

Product specifications:

Weight 44 kg
To be installed without machinery
Health and safety approved
100% recycled material of old airplane tires
Reusable after end of service life

The number of railway trespassers

In the Netherlands, over one in three train delays (35%) are caused by people who are walking too closely to the railway tracks.

The number of train delays as a result of trespassers is rising: from 2,905 in 2015 to 3,289 in 2019. This is an increase of 13%.

A hold-up by a trespasser causes an average delay of 32 minutes.. This can add up to 4.5 hours on a daily basis!

A train with a speed of 130 km/h has a braking distance of 600 meters.

With each notification of a trespasser, on average five trains have to slow down, which always results in a train traffic jam. This happens about seven times every day, causing inconvenience for more than 21,000 travelers. They miss appointments or their train connections.

Due to train delays, the Netherlands annually lose out on 140 to 175 million euros.

For railway trespassing, the fine is 140 euros. That may seem like a high price to pay, but when you consider that some trespassers pay with their life, €140 is really not that much.

Source: prorail.nl