"Young people are driven by passion and the desire to become famous." What are the dangers of train surfing?
Photo is illustrative in nature. From open sources.
Gennady Vorso, HEAD of the Public Safety Department for Transport Facilities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, explains: "Holidays are a long-awaited time of rest for schoolchildren. However, the risk of various accidents also increases during this period. During the holidays, children are often left to their own devices, which increases the likelihood of them making rash decisions and getting into dangerous situations, especially near railway lines. Gennady Vorso, Head of the Public Safety Department for Transport Facilities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, spoke to a BELTA correspondent about ways to keep children safe and prevent potential accidents.
All railway injuries are caused by violations of regulations
. "We record an average of 100 railway injuries per year. Last year, 92 people were injured in railway accidents (the same number as the year before). Of those injured, 68 died (including two minors), and 24 were injured. 58.7% of the total number of injured were intoxicated," noted Gennady Vorso.
As of June 1, 2025, 28 people had already been injured in railway accidents, 13 of whom died and 15 were injured. Five minors were injured in railway accidents, three of whom were fatal, one received an electrical injury, and one is hospitalized with injuries of varying severity.
On March 9, at 9:13 p.m., on the 861st kilometer of the Zalesye-Smorgon section, a minor student from Smorgon was fatally injured by a MINSK
-Gudogai regional train. The student ran onto the tracks in front of the oncoming train. On March 21, at around 5:10 p.m., on the 152nd kilometer of the Klimovichi-Voloskovnya section, a student from a college in the Mogilev region was fatally injured by a Belynkovichi-Krichev regional train.
On April 25, at 8:00 p.m., law enforcement received information that a minor student from a Moscow college had been taken to the hospital with a diagnosis of "50% skin burns, wounds and abrasions on his face, arms, and back." The student reported that he and an acquaintance had climbed onto the roof of an electric train at Stepyanka station that day. While moving, a minor was electrocuted and fell to the ground. The child was taken to intensive care.
"These incidents are caused by citizens violating rules for being on railway tracks, crossing tracks, failing to observe safety precautions, or being distracted. For example, people cross the railway wearing headphones or covering their view with a hood. Because of this, they don't hear signals or see an approaching train," the department head emphasized.
Train surfing is a dangerous hobby.
"One of the causes of injuries is train surfing—a dangerous hobby punishable by law and capable of causing injury or even death. A train surfer rides along the outside of a train car, clinging to it or standing on a step. This is a purely deliberate act. Teenagers watch videos online of others doing this and try to imitate them. Minors are driven by excitement and the desire to become famous online," said Gennady Vorso.
In 2025, 12 cases of train surfing have already been recorded. "This represents a small percentage of the total number of offenses committed by minors. However, each case poses a risk to the child's HEALTH and life. They could fall from a moving train or be electrocuted," the department head emphasized.
Gennady Vorso reminded that unauthorized travel on a train, boarding or disembarking while it's moving, or riding on the steps or roof of a train carries a fine of up to three basic units (1 BV = 42 Br). If the actions of train-riders lead to a train stop and disruption of the organization's operations, this entails liability under Article 19.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, which provides for a fine of up to 30 basic units, community service, or administrative arrest.
Teenage hooliganism on the railway
: "Recently, the number of offenses that threaten the safety of train operations has increased: damaging warning and communication devices, breaking windows in train cars while trains are in motion, and placing various objects on the tracks. Such violations often occur due to youthful mischief and the deliberate actions of young people left without adult supervision. Teenagers do not understand the consequences of their actions," Gennady Vorso emphasized.
He noted that last year, 56 violations were committed that posed a threat to the safe operation of trains, including 16 cases of broken windows in rolling stock and 30 cases of placing foreign objects on the rails.
"Depending on the consequences, such actions can result in either administrative or criminal liability. Breaking a window or placing a pebble on the rails will result in administrative liability. Causing serious bodily harm, damaging a signal lens, or damaging wires in a relay cabinet, which poses a threat to train operation, will result in criminal liability," the department head added
.Law enforcement officers combat violations on the railway.
"To prevent juvenile delinquency, we speak at educational institutions and publish preventative materials in the media and online. Together with Belarusian Railways, we produce videos and publish coloring books to educate children about safety rules and the possible consequences of illegal actions. Police officers also patrol railway facilities and escort trains. We conduct special operations at locations where illegal jaywalking is most frequently observed." Law enforcement officers conduct explanatory talks on site and draw up reports against violators," said Gennady Vorso.
Belarusian Railways, in turn, is installing barriers along the tracks to prevent crossings in unauthorized places and other violations. Areas with the highest number of track crossing violations are equipped with pedestrian crossings, some of which are equipped with automatic train warning devices.
"I remind you of the need to follow certain rules of conduct near railroad tracks, which will help protect your life and health . Cross the tracks only in designated areas, after ensuring there is no approaching train. Do not cross the boundary line at the edge of the platform, except to board or disembark a train car. Crawling under vehicles, climbing over automatic couplings, or climbing onto train cars is prohibited. Avoid using phones and headphones while near the tracks. Parents should remind their children that the railway is a high-risk area, where the slightest carelessness can lead to tragic consequences," the head of the department concluded, according to
BELTA.
All railway injuries are caused by violations of regulations
. "We record an average of 100 railway injuries per year. Last year, 92 people were injured in railway accidents (the same number as the year before). Of those injured, 68 died (including two minors), and 24 were injured. 58.7% of the total number of injured were intoxicated," noted Gennady Vorso.
As of June 1, 2025, 28 people had already been injured in railway accidents, 13 of whom died and 15 were injured. Five minors were injured in railway accidents, three of whom were fatal, one received an electrical injury, and one is hospitalized with injuries of varying severity.
On March 9, at 9:13 p.m., on the 861st kilometer of the Zalesye-Smorgon section, a minor student from Smorgon was fatally injured by a MINSK
-Gudogai regional train. The student ran onto the tracks in front of the oncoming train. On March 21, at around 5:10 p.m., on the 152nd kilometer of the Klimovichi-Voloskovnya section, a student from a college in the Mogilev region was fatally injured by a Belynkovichi-Krichev regional train.
On April 25, at 8:00 p.m., law enforcement received information that a minor student from a Moscow college had been taken to the hospital with a diagnosis of "50% skin burns, wounds and abrasions on his face, arms, and back." The student reported that he and an acquaintance had climbed onto the roof of an electric train at Stepyanka station that day. While moving, a minor was electrocuted and fell to the ground. The child was taken to intensive care.
"These incidents are caused by citizens violating rules for being on railway tracks, crossing tracks, failing to observe safety precautions, or being distracted. For example, people cross the railway wearing headphones or covering their view with a hood. Because of this, they don't hear signals or see an approaching train," the department head emphasized.
Train surfing is a dangerous hobby.
"One of the causes of injuries is train surfing—a dangerous hobby punishable by law and capable of causing injury or even death. A train surfer rides along the outside of a train car, clinging to it or standing on a step. This is a purely deliberate act. Teenagers watch videos online of others doing this and try to imitate them. Minors are driven by excitement and the desire to become famous online," said Gennady Vorso.
In 2025, 12 cases of train surfing have already been recorded. "This represents a small percentage of the total number of offenses committed by minors. However, each case poses a risk to the child's HEALTH and life. They could fall from a moving train or be electrocuted," the department head emphasized.
Gennady Vorso reminded that unauthorized travel on a train, boarding or disembarking while it's moving, or riding on the steps or roof of a train carries a fine of up to three basic units (1 BV = 42 Br). If the actions of train-riders lead to a train stop and disruption of the organization's operations, this entails liability under Article 19.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, which provides for a fine of up to 30 basic units, community service, or administrative arrest.
Teenage hooliganism on the railway
: "Recently, the number of offenses that threaten the safety of train operations has increased: damaging warning and communication devices, breaking windows in train cars while trains are in motion, and placing various objects on the tracks. Such violations often occur due to youthful mischief and the deliberate actions of young people left without adult supervision. Teenagers do not understand the consequences of their actions," Gennady Vorso emphasized.
He noted that last year, 56 violations were committed that posed a threat to the safe operation of trains, including 16 cases of broken windows in rolling stock and 30 cases of placing foreign objects on the rails.
"Depending on the consequences, such actions can result in either administrative or criminal liability. Breaking a window or placing a pebble on the rails will result in administrative liability. Causing serious bodily harm, damaging a signal lens, or damaging wires in a relay cabinet, which poses a threat to train operation, will result in criminal liability," the department head added
.Law enforcement officers combat violations on the railway.
"To prevent juvenile delinquency, we speak at educational institutions and publish preventative materials in the media and online. Together with Belarusian Railways, we produce videos and publish coloring books to educate children about safety rules and the possible consequences of illegal actions. Police officers also patrol railway facilities and escort trains. We conduct special operations at locations where illegal jaywalking is most frequently observed." Law enforcement officers conduct explanatory talks on site and draw up reports against violators," said Gennady Vorso.
Belarusian Railways, in turn, is installing barriers along the tracks to prevent crossings in unauthorized places and other violations. Areas with the highest number of track crossing violations are equipped with pedestrian crossings, some of which are equipped with automatic train warning devices.
"I remind you of the need to follow certain rules of conduct near railroad tracks, which will help protect your life and health . Cross the tracks only in designated areas, after ensuring there is no approaching train. Do not cross the boundary line at the edge of the platform, except to board or disembark a train car. Crawling under vehicles, climbing over automatic couplings, or climbing onto train cars is prohibited. Avoid using phones and headphones while near the tracks. Parents should remind their children that the railway is a high-risk area, where the slightest carelessness can lead to tragic consequences," the head of the department concluded, according to
BELTA.
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