Network Rail’s Central route, which covers the West Midlands to London Marylebone, is spending £500,000 to target graffiti in known problem areas; as a first step in cleaning the railway in the Birmingham area ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Network Rail is trialling a ‘cleaner and greener’, airless spray; which allows them to clear graffiti six times faster than with traditional paint and rollers.
The new kit means a 200-metre stretch of wall can be repainted in 30 minutes, compared to three hours using traditional tools.
Allun Edge, maintenance protection coordinator at Network Rail, said: “Graffiti is a challenge for the railway so tackling it more quickly and efficiently is a big win for us. Cleaning up vandalised walls and areas will improve the look and feel of the rail network and will help to restore confidence as we work to welcome passengers back to travelling by train. Our goal is to make sure that everybody using the network feels safe and comfortable to do so.”
Chris Heaton-Harris, Daventry MP and junior 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 innovating by investing in new technology to deal with the problem. As we build back better and prepare for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, removing graffiti across the West Midlands will improve our railway and make stations and services more pleasant for passengers.”
As Network Rail points out, trespassing on the railway and committing acts of vandalism with graffiti is a crime. Incidents can be reported to Network Rail’s 24-hour national helpline on 03457 11 41 41.
Pictured courtesy of Network Rail; its men painting over sub-stations and electrical cabinets in Southport, repeatedly targeted by vandals.
Background
In a letter to Network Rail in September, as part of a more general ‘Great British September Clean’ Transport Secretary Grant Shapps complained of the ‘blight of graffiti’, that he said can have an impact on the confidence of passengers as they return to safely using the railway, and on the wider public view of public transport. “Much more than that addressing visible signs of crime and anti-social behaviour such as graffiti helps to create an environment of respect for the law. This helps to prevent more serious crimes on and around the railway network, thereby promoting passenger safety,” he wrote.
