IT’S tragic that four people have lost their lives on the Airedale railway line during the past year.

Our hearts go out to the family, friends and loved ones of those who have died. It is impossible to imagine what they have been through and their lives will never be the same again.

The number of recorded incidents of trespass year-on-year has actually fallen slightly.

But 38 is still way too high.

And one of the most worrying trends, across the region and beyond, is the rising number of young people using the rail network as a ‘playground’.

Network Rail and British Transport Police have done a huge amount of work aimed at getting the safety message across to school children, and a new campaign has been launched to coincide with the start of the summer holidays – when incidents traditionally rise.

However, responsibility for confronting the problem does not rest wholly with the two organisations.

They can only do so much.

Parents and others need to reinforce to children the potentially fatal consequences of venturing onto the tracks.