Drunks, disorderly people and trespassers caused more than a day worth of train delays in Glasgow last year.
Analysis of Network Rail data shows that more than 350 trains were delayed because of people who had drank too much alcohol, were disorderly, or were trespassing on train lines in the 12 months to August last year.
That’s only looking at delays caused by incidents at railway stations used by passengers, so the figure would likely be even higher if trespassing at depots, sidings and other parts of the track was included.
The figures show that 111 different incidents across our area caused 354 trains to experience delay - leading to a combined 30.6 hours worth of lost time.
According to a report by the body, many of the delays are caused by physical abuse and fighting.
Other reasons include rowdy and intoxicated football supporters, people taking shortcuts that lead onto railway lines, and people going trackside to retrieve items that they have dropped.
The worst station for drunk, disorderly and trespassing delays in Glasgow was Glasgow Central.
The 38 incidents there led to 72 trains being delayed - setting passengers back 5.2 hours.
That was followed by Glasgow Queen Street (21 incidents, five hours), Shettleston (11 incidents, 2.8 hours), and Hyndland (10 incidents, five hours).
Nationally there were 140 days worth of rail delays in the 12 months to August last year because of drunk and disorderly people or trespass.
A report by Network Rail last August found that trespass on the rail network is a key generator of delays - and that trespass disruption has increased significantly for the last six years.
It said: “Alcohol and travel fraud are significant contributing factors towards railway disruption.
“Groups of youths are committing trespass offences in the spring/summer at high impact disruption locations in line with bank and school holidays.”
Looking nationally, the worst station for drunk, disorderly and trespassing delays last year was East Croydon , with 96 separate incidents causing 1.4 days worth of delays.
That was followed by Birmingham New Street (95 incidents, 1.9 days), Clapham Junction (93 incidents, two days) and York (87 incidents, 1.1 days).
