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| 'Steep rise' in crime on railway | 'Steep rise' in crime on railway |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Crime and disorder on the railways in Wales has nearly doubled so far this year, according to rail company Arriva Trains Wales. | Crime and disorder on the railways in Wales has nearly doubled so far this year, according to rail company Arriva Trains Wales. |
| BBC current affairs programme Eye On Wales found 539 incidents between January to mid April 2007, compared to 317 in the same period in 2006. | BBC current affairs programme Eye On Wales found 539 incidents between January to mid April 2007, compared to 317 in the same period in 2006. |
| After one incident at a Rhondda station, a train was disabled by a large gang of youths. | After one incident at a Rhondda station, a train was disabled by a large gang of youths. |
| The rail company has threatened to withdraw some services. | The rail company has threatened to withdraw some services. |
| The incident at Ystrad Rhondda at the end of March left the driver, guard, and three security guards terrified. | |
| Passengers were effectively stranded for more than an hour. | Passengers were effectively stranded for more than an hour. |
| The guard, who had a fire extinguisher let off in his face and a bottle thrown at him, narrowly missing his head, has been off work since the incident. | The guard, who had a fire extinguisher let off in his face and a bottle thrown at him, narrowly missing his head, has been off work since the incident. |
| The guard, Mike Shepherd, said: "I've been on the railway now 28 years and I've never seen it this bad. It's just getting out of control." | |
| 'Very serious' | 'Very serious' |
| It is still being investigated by British Transport Police. | It is still being investigated by British Transport Police. |
| The increase in incidents, which cover anti-social behaviour, assault, criminal damage, public disorder and attacks on trains, comes despite increased security measures over the past 15 months. | The increase in incidents, which cover anti-social behaviour, assault, criminal damage, public disorder and attacks on trains, comes despite increased security measures over the past 15 months. |
| These include security guards on some trains, CCTV cameras and community support officers to boost British Transport Police numbers. | These include security guards on some trains, CCTV cameras and community support officers to boost British Transport Police numbers. |
| Arriva Trains Wales has warned that unless things improve, it may have to cancel some services on the stretch of track between Pontypridd and Treherbert. | |
| Commercial director Mike Bagshaw told the programme: "Clearly, we're very concerned, this was a very frightening incident. | Commercial director Mike Bagshaw told the programme: "Clearly, we're very concerned, this was a very frightening incident. |
| "Our staff have a right to feel safe in their place of work, and our job as a company is to ensure they have a safe place to work so yes, it's a very serious problem." | "Our staff have a right to feel safe in their place of work, and our job as a company is to ensure they have a safe place to work so yes, it's a very serious problem." |
| Eye On Wales is on BBC Radio Wales on Monday at 1830 BST. |