Railway warning issued to walkers

Following a number of incidents in recent months involving people walking on railway lines in the Highlands, the Police and Network Rail are warning walkers not to trespass on railway lines.

In particular Network Rail say they have received a number of recent reports of trespass incidents in the vicinity of the start of the Ben Lui and Beinn a’Chleibh walk near the car park with one recent report involving a near miss. As a result the British Transport Police have raised concerns about hillwalkers crossing the railway on this route and more generally about the dangers of trespassing on railway lines. For the Ben Lui and Beinn a’Chleibh route, Walkhighlands recommends using the underpass at the Eas Diamh bridge to cross under the railway line.

Earlier this month two men were hurt after they were hit by a train on Rannoch Moor. A 52-year-old man and his 87-year-old father were walking along the track 2 miles north of Rannoch Station, near Corrour, when they were struck by the Scot Rail train. It is understood that the train driver tried to avoid a collision by braking once he spotted the two men who were both airlifted to hospital and the line was closed for a period of time.