Greater Anglia has finished an anti-trespass rollout across more than 20 locations in the Eastern region, ending a programme that began in January 2026 and wrapped in late spring. The work put fencing, access gates and trackside deterrents in place at sites including Attleborough, Chelmsford, Diss, March, Stowmarket, Thetford and Whittlesea.
Matt Wakefield, Greater Anglia’s Safety, Security & Sustainability Director, said: "Safety is our top priority on the railway, and these measures are designed to help keep people off the tracks and away from danger." The company said the scheme used rubber spike mats called witches' hats alongside the other measures to discourage unauthorised access.
Matt Wakefield on track risk
Wakefield also said: "The railway is not a playground. Anyone who goes on the tracks without permission is putting their life, and the lives of others, at serious risk." He urged the public to act quickly if they see someone on the line: "If you see someone on the tracks, please alert a member of rail staff immediately or dial 999 in an emergency."
The rollout coincided with Rail Safety Week, giving the work a public-facing deadline that lined up with a wider safety push. Greater Anglia said the programme was aimed at reducing instances of trespass, and the scale matters because the system is being protected at more than 20 separate points rather than one isolated site.
Greater Anglia and GBR Anglia
Greater Anglia, Network Rail Anglia and c2c were working under a more integrated leadership approach within GBR Anglia. Greater Anglia is also investing in staff training with Samaritans, with employees being trained to recognise behavioural cues, approach individuals safely and start supportive conversations before directing people to British Transport Police, family contacts or specialist organisations.
Trespass is described as a persistent safety risk for both the public and operational staff, so the completed works show where the first layer of response has landed: on access control at the track edge. The open question now is whether the January-to-late-spring programme changes the number of trespass incidents after the work is in place.
