Trespassing on rail property is against the law, and a serious safety problem. Too many people take unnecessary risks, and are seriously or fatally injured, while walking on or near railway tracks. Railway infrastructure including tracks, yards, bridges and tunnels are off-limits to the public, and trespassing on railway property is subject to arrest and fines. Long-term trespass prevention strategies involving a wide range of stakeholders working together have been put in place. These include the public education efforts of the Operation Lifesaver program, and Transport Canada Outreach programs which include community trespass prevention initiatives. This latter initiative works with varied stakeholders to identify and address the causes of trespassing within local communities. Planning for safe, trespass-free design in existing and new urban development near railway property is also an important form of proactive trespassing prevention. Access control methods include targeted fencing and signage to inform and illustrate risk to the public. Successful trespass prevention initiatives also involve the 4 E’s: education (of the public), engineering (proper design and infrastructure for access control), enforcement (by police), and evaluation (planning by railway and municipality). Trespassing issues of concern include safety assessments, construction and maintenance, safety measures and snowmobilers/ATV users who travel in the vicinity of railway tracks.
