CorpComms Magazine

I hear that Network Rail is losing millions of pounds, it's not ticket evaders is it?

Surprisingly not. It is because a huge amount of copper is being stolen from the railway lines.

Copper? I didn't know it was worth anything!

It seems to be worth approximately £4 per kilogramme for scrap copper.

That's more than I imagined. What is happening as a result?

More delays means more money spent on refunds. And track replacements require more workmen. Staff have also had to be hired to try to catch the offenders. All these factors combined means that millions of pounds is required, causing massive financial losses for Network Rail.

Why the sudden rise in railway line copper theft? What has changed?

Let's just say that the rise in scrap metal prices, combined with groups who have been hardest hit by the recession turning to crime, is not a good combination.

Is it getting worse?

Unfortunately it is. In Sheffield alone, there are now numerous occurrences on a weekly basis. And as the prices of metal continue to rise, it is expected that crime of this sort will follow suit. Workers for Network Rail have described the continuous problem as 'soul destroying'.

Are the police getting involved?

The British Transport Police made over 200 arrests in the last year, but considering the scale of the problem, the arrests do not match the number of crimes.

Surely implementing CCTV would help?

It has been, as well as alarms and increased patrols by the British Transport Police.

Well it's a step in the right direction!

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