Police clamp as train boozers go off the rails

HIGH-profile operations are being carried out by police to combat anti-social behaviour on a rail beer crawl.

The Real Ale Trial, which runs through Saddleworth, has been on the police radar for the past year and officers are looking to clamp down on a rise in rowdy revellers.

Booze-fuelled troublemakers have been falling off platforms, running across the tracks, swearing, urinating on platforms and disrupting services.

Now British Transport Police (BTP), West Yorkshire Police, Northern Rail and First TransPennine Express, have stepped up their presence and working with community groups.

Insp Richard Price from British Transport Police is fearful someone could be killed or badly injured if the bad behaviour continues.

He said: “Officers are regularly patrolling the route and we have been engaging with train operators, the local communities and businesses which are being affected by the influx of people every weekend.

“The Real Ale Trail is a novel and fun experience and the vast majority of the people who follow the trail behave in a decent and respectful manner, and we would like to thank them.

“However there are a few whose behaviour, whether fuelled by alcohol or not is unacceptable.

“While crime is not a big problem, with only a few offences recorded, anti- social and dangerous behaviour of some of the revellers is.

“Fast trains regularly run through small stations on the trail, and we are worrried someone is going to get badly injured or even killed.

“In addition to our regular patrols, we are also going to be running a number of high profile operations over the next few months involving even more officers policing the line and engaging with those travelling to highlight the dangers of their behaviour.

“We will not hesitate to take action against anyone who does commit a crime or behaves in a problematic manner.”

The Transpennine Ale Trail was introduced back in 2009 by Northern Rail for tourists and real ale drinkers to enjoy eight railway taverns between Stalybridge and Batley — including Greenfield, Marsden and Huddersfield.

Hen parties

But its success has spiralled out of control with an influx of stag and hen parties.

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