SWR services delayed by almost 10,000 minutes due to trespassers

Trespass incidents caused almost 10,000 minutes of delays to South Western Railway (SWR) services for the 2025/26 period.

Data released by Network Rail and British Transport Police (BTP) shows that 9,437 minutes worth of delays were caused, equivalent to about six and a half days.

Across England, trespass, cable theft and obstruction caused more than 3,300 hours of delays during the same period, making it one of the railway’s biggest causes of disruption, with a significant impact on customers.

The SWR network had the third-highest rate of vandalism and obstruction across Network Rail’s 14 routes, including deliberately placed items such as debris and other pieces of track on the railway.

The rail firm said an additional risk on its network was the fact it uses a third rail as electricity supply.

It carries 750 volts of direct current, which can cause severe or lifechanging injuries, or death.