Rail tracks across York Region dubbed 'hot spots' for trespassing

Metrolinx seeing 'alarming' increase in incidents across GTA

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 14, 2020
Aileen Zangouei

The transit operator Metrolinx said that it has seen an “alarming” increase in trespassing incidents across rail corridors and tracks in York Region and the GTA.

According to a Metrolinx media release, the trespassing incidents often are “involving young people.”

From Jan. 1, 2020 to Sept. 3, 16 per cent of the total number of trespassing incidents involving people on the GO tracks have taken place in the York Region area, according to Matt Llewellyn, spokesperson for Metrolinx.

The transit safety team at Metrolinx has received a total of 40 reports of people trespassing on tracks in York Region this year.

The highest concentration of these incidents tend to occur between the Newmarket and Aurora GO stations, and between Unionville and Centennial GO stations in Markham.

“I can tell you, we take every single trespassing incident very seriously and we’re continually taking proactive measures to keep people off our tracks and everyone safe,” Llewellyn said.

In the Newmarket and Aurora GO stations, Metrolinx has added additional fencing and signage, and increased transit safety patrols in the area.

According to Llewellyn, Metrolinx is also working with the local municipality to increase the presence of bylaw officers along that section of the Barrie line.

The same preventive measures have been taken in the areas between Unionville and Centennial GO stations, Llewellyn said.

“We also regularly work on educating the community about the dangers associated with trespassing on rail tracks through media and community outreach, as well as countless safety campaigns,” Llewellyn said.

Metrolinx released multiple videos showing close calls where the train nearly hits the person on the tracks.

In one of the videos, it shows what appears to be a man crossing the tracks despite the downed gates.

“If downed gates won’t stop you, a train will. Stop. Look. Listen. Live,” the message in the video reads.

According to Operation Lifesaver, a national organization that partners with Transport Canada and other railway companies to stop track deaths and accidents, more than 100 serious incidents involving young people and trains have been reported for this year.

Thirty-four of those incidents have resulted in death, including 11 in Ontario that related to trespassing on tracks.

In the GTA, one location in Mississauga has been dubbed a hot spot for trespassers. The location is a rail bridge that crosses the Credit River.

At the location, the media release states that the special constable has been called more than 40 times -- giving more than 100 warnings -- and they’ve also laid 15 charges.

In order to combat these incidents, Metrolinx will be installing rubber anti-trespassing mats at certain level crossings, through a pilot project.

The mats are hard and uneven, which makes them “nearly impossible” to walk over, said Metrolinx.

They have already been installed along the Lakeshore East line, but will be expanding to Stouffville and the Lakeshore West routes, in Mississauga and Oakville.

Other measures to combat trespassing will be rolled out in the future.

“At Metrolinx, we believe we all have a role to play in keeping our rail corridors safe.

“We ask the community to say something if they see something or someone on the tracks,” Llewellyn said.