Bane Nor is taking a proactive approach to safety, visiting schools to educate children about the dangers surrounding railway tracks and prevent accidents. A crucial point they emphasize is the immense stopping distance of trains – a factor often underestimated by the public.
So far this year, there have been 2,900 unwanted incidents near railway tracks, a figure encompassing everything from risky TikTok trends to the irresponsible use of electric scooters. It’s a concerning statistic that underscores the need for increased awareness.
According to Bane Nor, many accidents stem not from recklessness, but from a simple lack of understanding. They stress that trains are incapable of sudden braking or evasive maneuvers, making maintaining a safe distance paramount.
«It’s 600 tons of metal gliding on steel rails. It can’t swerve,« explains Pål Buset, project manager for awareness-building initiatives at Bane Nor, highlighting the critical need to educate children and young people about the realities of rail travel.
Buset believes a common oversight is the tendency to forget that trains behave fundamentally differently than cars.
«What we fear most is children venturing onto the railway lines,« Buset adds, a sentiment that drives the urgency of their outreach program.
Recently, the company sent letters to approximately 1,600 schools located near railway tracks. Senior Advisor Camilla Halvorsen explains this action was prompted by a worrying increase in the number of children and young people found in or near railway areas.
A recurring issue is the influence of TikTok trends, with children and teenagers filming selfies on the tracks. «They’re trying to show off and don’t realize how dangerous it is. A train cannot brake quickly, even at low speeds,« Halvorsen points out. To date, 78 of the 2,900 unwanted incidents this year have involved children.
Bane Nor reports that unwanted incidents decreased during the pandemic but have been steadily rising since. From 2020 to 2024, there was a 14 percent increase.
This week, Bane Nor visited Torridal School in Kristiansand, which is situated close to the railway line. Maja Lærum-Andersen (12) learned a surprising fact. «I was very surprised to learn how long it takes a train to stop. It’s scary,« she said. Mila Patkovic (12) added, «If someone goes over the fence, it’s very dangerous.«
In the classroom, students were asked to estimate the stopping distance of a 600-ton train traveling at 90 kilometers per hour. Guesses ranged from 100 to 500 meters. The correct answer, provided by Pål Buset, was a sobering one kilometer.
Camilla Halvorsen explains that typical unwanted incidents include people illegally crossing tracks, fishermen fishing near the lines, and children going under level crossing barriers. «We’re seeing things get worse. On the Jærbanen line, we’re seeing an increase in electric scooter use on platforms. I don’t think it’s about stupidity, but a lack of knowledge,« she says.
Mila, Maja, and classmate Jonathan Tobiassen (12) haven’t personally witnessed such incidents, but Jonathan recounts how his mother once had to ask some teenagers to move away from the tracks. «It’s good she did that, because it could be dangerous,« he stated.
Assistant Principal Hilde Sollie expressed her gratitude for Bane Nor’s visit, emphasizing the importance of informing children about rail safety. «We are a school that likes to use the local area in our teaching. It is important that children are aware of how they should behave around the train,« she said.
Sollie confirmed that Torridal School has not experienced any dangerous incidents in or near the railway area.
