TasRail has reported record levels of vandalism at Tasmanian railway crossings in the past year, especially in the state's northwest.
The number of reported level-crossing vandalism incidents increased 89 per cent during that period.
TasRail said CCTV footage taken from trains during the July school holidays showed children playing in a rail corridor and walking on tracks.
In another incident, a train driver reported a youth throwing a pick axe onto the tracks.
TasRail chief executive Damien White said a recent peak in incidents coincided with school holidays.
"In the past six weeks, there's been almost half the number of incidents we saw in the full last financial year, so this is an issue that isn't going away," he said.
"It's certainly putting our drivers at risk for real physical harm as well as mental trauma, and they're putting the general public at risk by vandalising equipment that is designed to save lives."
TasRail recorded 30 trespass incidents in Tasmania's northwest last financial year, compared to six in the south.
It also reported 40 vandalism and theft incidents in the northwest, compared to seven in the south.
Since July 1, TasRail has recorded eight trespass incidents across the state, and 20 vandalism and theft incidents.
Mr White said they were working with Tasmania Police to crack down on offenders.
"We've got some improved surveillance technology, and all of our locomotives have closed-circuit cameras fitted to the front of them and a growing number of level crossings have six cameras," he said.
"So we're now in a position to capture evidence."
