Huge Rise in Railway Vandalism

By DICK MURRAY

VANDALISM at railway stations is on the increase, according to British Transport Police figures released today by the Conservatives.

The worst station in 2005/06 was Bickley, in Bromley, with 87 instances, compared with just three in 2001/02.

The figures follow the release last week by the Tories of figures showing a rise in the number of assaults on rail passengers.

At Clapham Junction there were only 14 incidents of vandalism in 2004/05 but 37 for 2005/06.

London Bridge station, with no recorded cases of vandalism in 2001/02, had 33 incidents in 2005/06.

Shadow transport secretary Chris Grayling said: “If the Government is serious about getting people out of their cars, then it needs to address safety on public transport more effectively.”

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