THE incident on the railway line through Keighley has brought into sharp focus the extreme dangers of venturing onto the tracks.

The man concerned is lucky to be alive. More often than not, being hit by a train results in a fatality.

We wish him well as he recovers from his injuries.

The exact circumstances of what happened are still under investigation.

But whatever the inquiries establish, this is an opportune time to reinforce the railway safety message.

Yes, Network Rail has a responsibility to ensure it does everything possible to prevent people wandering onto its tracks. That includes the prompt repair of damaged fencing.

However, at the end of the day, there is only so much it can do.

Fencing might provide a deterrent to many, but those determined enough to access the railway – for whatever reason – will most likely find a way.

We have got to depend to a large extent on education.

The tracks are an incredibly dangerous place, and whenever the opportunity arises, that message must be voiced.