Criminals are targeting the cables that control rail infrastructure such as signals and points, to sell them for scrap.
Figures released by Network Rail today reveal a £43m cost to this crime-spree over the past three years, resulting in over 16,000 hours of delay.
Network Rail operational services director Dyan Crowther said: “These criminal acts have to stop. Every day passengers and essential freight deliveries upon which our economy relies are being delayed by thieves looking to make a quick buck at our expense.
“I cannot over-emphasise just how serious these crimes are. Cable thieves deny passengers the service they rightly expect and, through the massive cost to the industry, deny everyone improvements to rail services.
“We are doing everything we can to protect the railway and will continue to work closely with British Transport Police and other rail partners to do everything in our power to deter thieves and bring those who attack our network to justice.”
In 2010/11 there were nearly 1,000 individual attacks on essential rail systems, up 52% on the previous year, causing passenger delays of more than 6,000 hours.
British Transport Police assistant chief constable Alan Pacey said: "The railways have seen significant delays and cancellations as a result of thieves cutting and stealing signalling and power cables from the side of the track. But we are working to tackle the issue and in the past few months have seen significant jail sentences handed down to cable thieves put before the courts.
“We are determined to send a clear message that such attacks on our critical infrastructure are unacceptable and the police and rail industry are working together to tackle the problem."
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