ProRail warns of children placing stones on tracks near Helmond

ProRail has issued a warning to parents after children were caught placing stones on the railway tracks between Helmond and Deurne. A train driver observed children fleeing the scene on Saturday evening near the Helmondseweg in Deurne.

In addition to stones on the rails, a pile of stones was found prepared on a maintenance bridge adjacent to the tracks. The incident forced trains to operate at reduced speeds on Saturday evening. ProRail officials noted that such incidents are becoming increasingly frequent at this location, which is accessible via a nearby forest.

Emiel Jansen, an incident combatting team leader at ProRail, emphasized the danger to both passengers and the children involved. He stated, “The track is not a playground,” and warned that parents could be held liable for any damage caused to the infrastructure. While the stones were removed on Saturday evening and normal service resumed by Sunday morning, the extent of any potential damage to the tracks remains unclear.