A reckless act of stupidity on one of the main rail lines into Bradford has been highlighted as one example of the way youngsters are putting their lives at risk through criminal behaviour on the railways.

Network Rail has revealed there have been 180 incidents of trespass and vandalism across Yorkshire in the last year, involving young people taking short cuts, spraying graffiti, playing chicken with trains or placing objects on tracks.

In one incident, a bike and a wheeled bin were placed on the line at Bowling tunnel on the approach to Bradford on the Caldervale line.

As the holidays begin, Network Rail is encouraging people to take up more positive activities and not put themselves at risk.

Its No Messin’ campaign, which works with local community groups and clubs across Britain, is fronted by world boxing champion Amir Khan.

He said: “Young people need to know that playing chicken or throwing stones at trains won’t get you respect or win you real friends.”

The most shocking examples include 79 reports of stone or brick-throwing at trains, children playing chicken with trains and a bike thrown from a bridge on to a travelling train.

Earlier this year, the Telegraph & Argus reported how police had given strong words of advice to a 13-year-old boy who was egged on by friends to play ‘chicken’ with an oncoming train at Cononley level crossing, near Skipton.

And last April, police warned that lives were being put at risk after vandals piled rocks on a railway line at Butcher Hill in the Horsforth area.

Trouble hotspots in the Bradford area include Low Moor, West Bowling and Thackley tunnel.

Richard Lungmuss, Network Rail’s route director, said: “It’s good to see the number of incidents involving young people coming down, but far too many continue to risk their lives by taking a misguided short cut or worse, deliberately messing around on the tracks.

“Unlike cars, trains cannot swerve and can take the length of 20 football pitches to stop.”

He said contact with electricity power lines, which are in place along the Airedale and Wharfedale lines, could result in horrific injuries, burns or even death.