Graffiti vandals derailing plans to keep Milton Keynes trains safe for travellers

Vandals are forcing vital train services from Milton Keynes into the sidings, endangering key NHS staff and those returning to work.

London Northwestern Railway, which operates services to London and Birmingham via MK, revealed a spate of graffiti attacks have forced it to put carriages into sidings instead of using them to extend services and help passengers maintain social distancing on board.

LNWR restored some services to its timetable on Monday following Boris Johnson's announcement that those who cannot do their jobs at home could go back to work.

Customer experience director Lawrence Bowman said: “With social distancing reducing capacity on trains, it is more important than ever that we have as many carriages as possible available for use.

"This stupidity is jeopardising that goal.

“At a time when our cleaning teams are working extremely hard in challenging conditions, it is soul-destroying for them to face this additional workload just to get carriages back on the tracks.

“Trespassing on electrified railway lines is illegal, extremely dangerous and can lead to serious injury.”

Network Rail estimates it costs at least £5million a year to clean up graffiti from trains and the British Transport Police is keen to crack down on vandalism.

LNWR upped levels of service on Monday but so far report the majority of returning workers are following guidance to avoid using public transport wherever possible, leaving trains free for vital NHS staff and those who really need to travel.

Spokesman Andy McGill said: "We are keeping a close eye on how many people are using our services but the whole idea of trains is to bring a lot of people together in a small space for transport. That doesn't lend itself to the concept of social distancing.

"We are running more trains so there are more carriages on network but that still doesn't make it easy for social distancing on board.

"Early signs are we've got some empty car parks around network and people seem to be following advice to work from home or find different ways to travel."