Cable thieves strike again on railway

A 100-metre length of cable was stolen from near a level crossing at Cutsyke, near Castleford, and equipment was damaged on the East Coast Main Line at Arksey, just north of Doncaster.

The incidents happened early yesterday, only hours before MPs learned that as many as six to eight cable thefts occur on the railways every day.

Network Rail’s operational services director, Dyan Crowther, told the Commons Transport Committee that thieves sometimes moved in during periods when signals were being replaced and it was “almost like providing sweets in a sweetshop”. She said offenders had even included Network Rail staff.

The chief executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies, Michael Roberts, said the problem was costing the UK economy between £16m and £20m a year.

British Transport Police (BTP) Deputy Chief Constable Paul Crowther told the committee new legislation – to replace existing “Steptoe and Son” regulations – was needed to control the problem.

The Yorkshire Post revealed last month that the Government was considering giving police powers to close scrapyards which accept stolen metal.