From the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, 7th December 2011
BOOZERS on the railway Real Ale Trail are being warned to behave.
Unruly behaviour has prompted police to issue a warning about the conduct of those following the Real Ale Trail between Stalybridge and Batley.
The trail takes in pubs in Huddersfield.
British Transport Police (BTP) say drinkers have been urinating on platforms, running across train tracks and damaging trains.
BTP say they fear it’s only a matter of time before “reckless behaviour” becomes a major incident.
They’ve joined forces with Northern Rail and First TransPennine Express (FTPE) to express concerns about the behaviour of those on the trail made famous by BBC’s James May and Oz Clark.
Insp Richard Price, from British Transport Police, said: “We are receiving an increased number of reports of large groups of passengers travelling in a drunk and disorderly manner on services on a weekend.
“Beer glasses are being carried on to trains, people are urinating on platforms, the doors on trains are being held open, disrupting services and trains themselves are also being damaged.
“We have also had reports of large groups of men heavily under the influence of alcohol running across the tracks and over-crowding platforms, compromising the safety of others.”
The inspector said large groups of revellers, including stag and hen parties, following the trail has led to an increase in the number of drunken passengers they are having to deal with at railway stations from Stalybridge to Batley.
Insp Price added: “We do not want to spoil people having a fun night out, but this behaviour is now crossing the line and makes the journeys of other passengers and staff an intimidating experience.
“It is only a matter of time before we have a major incident on our hands due to the reckless behaviour of some.
“Too often we are seeing issues at stations and onboard services on this route, with alcohol as a causal factor.”
He said their tolerance had run out and now BTP have increased patrols and plain clothes officers will be deployed at stations to spot trouble makers, warning revellers they could be prosecuted and banned from the rail network.
The Real Ale Trail gained popularity after being featured on Oz Clark and James May’s Drink to Britain TV series in 2009.
It takes in Stalybridge’s Station Buffet Bar, the Railway Inn, Greenfield, the Riverhead Brewery Tap, Marsden, The Commercial in Slaithwaite, Kings Head and Head of Steam in Huddersfield, the Navigation, Mirfield, West Riding, Dewsbury and Batley’s Cellar Bar.
Lee Wasnidge, Area Director for Northern Rail, said: “Our passengers have the right to travel and our employees the right to work without fear for their safety and we will not tolerate anti-social behaviour either at our stations or on our trains.”
Billy Vickers, FTPE’s Police Liaison Officer, added: “The Real Ale Trail is a novel and fun experience and we are delighted that we are able to support passengers with their travel around this.
“The vast majority of our customers behave in a decent and respectful manner, and we would like to thank them for such. However there are a few whose behaviour, whether fuelled by alcohol or not is unacceptable.”
BRITISH Transport Police have been called to a number of incidents relating to offences by passengers on the Real Ale Trail over the last few months.
The incidents include:
– A 32-year-old man was reported for urinating at Huddersfield Railway Station on December 3.
– A member of rail staff was verbally abused by a passenger at the ticket barriers on November 17 at Huddersfield Railway Station.
– A 20-year-old man was cautioned for using abusive language at Huddersfield Railway Station on October 11.
– A group is alleged to have thrown glass bottles at Dewsbury Railway Station on October 31.
See also an article on the BBC website at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-16069913
and from the British Transport Police at
Apparently people come from as far away as Bristol to get bladdered in Slaithwaite.
The British Transport Police are working with Northern Rail and with the licensees with regard to managing the situation.
The BTP estimate that on a typical Saturday there can be up to 300 people doing the rail ale trail. The main problems seem to be at Marsden and Slaithwaite. Ale trail people usually start at either end – at Stalybridge or Batley – so by the time the get to Slawit, they are typically on their fourth or fifth pint. The main problems arise when trains are at stations (large groups of indecisive people getting on or off trains) and especially when trains are late. When trains are running late, some of the drunks experience alcohol-induced bladder control problems, apparently, and relieve themselves into the nearest flower bed/bus shelter/corner of car park (delete as appropriate).