Vandalism

[Black Hair]

I get the train into Birmingham every weekday from Stafford, and have noticed over the past few months that more and more equipment is being vandalised

I sometimes get trains from Penkridge and the permit-to-travel machine's "out of order" hood was stolen about 6 months ago, and the information points are unusable (London Midland says this is also vandalism). It makes one wonder why these things don't get fixed, is it because the TOCs in charge of the stations think it's not worth fixing things as they'll only be damaged again in a few days/weeks? The RPIs on trains calling from Penkridge now know that the permit machine hasn't worked for a long time and have no problem with selling tickets on the train, despite the "Have you paid?" posters all over the platforms.

I did, however, have to chuckle at something I saw on a XC Voyager to Bournemouth on Monday. The train was standing room only because of people returning from the V Festival, and I ended up in the space where bicycles are stored. Someone had messed with the air conditioning vent and done this:

 

[Mojo]

I too have noticed a lot more graffiti on both National Rail and LU stock recently, both internally and externally. From the dark days of the first half of the decade when it seemed every Networker in South London was covered in graffiti and windows on local trains were all etched, to the start of this year I think I managed to avoid seeing a single graffitied train. I've seen several of them in the past month.

 

[142094]

Vandals seem to be using more ingenious methods these days as well. Recently saw some info about them using acids decanted into bingo dabbers to mark glass, and also some who put stickers up on stations and trains. Behind the stickers were razor blades intending to hurt people cleaning them off.

 

[12CSVT]

Its a shame we're not allowed to deal with them in the same way that pest control deal with all other vermin.

 

[red circle]

Vandals seem to be using more ingenious methods these days as well. Recently saw some info about them using acids decanted into bingo dabbers to mark glass, and also some who put stickers up on stations and trains. Behind the stickers were razor blades intending to hurt people cleaning them off.

I think that is hydrofluoric acid,really nasty stuff.So I am told if you get it on your hands it is impossible to remove or neutralise ,amputation being the only 'cure'.

 

[142094]

Sounds right - on the note there was a picture of someone who had their fingers burned by it - not very nice indeed. However if it burned the fingers of the vandals it would serve them right.

 

[StoneRoad]

I think that is hydrofluoric acid,really nasty stuff.So I am told if you get it on your hands it is impossible to remove or neutralise ,amputation being the only 'cure'.

not only that, HF acid rots through virtually anything that is not another fluoride polymer!

 

[scotsman]

Vandals seem to be using more ingenious methods these days as well. Recently saw some info about them using acids decanted into bingo dabbers to mark glass, and also some who put stickers up on stations and trains. Behind the stickers were razor blades intending to hurt people cleaning them off.

Yeah, never come across it anywhere but there were notices about it up in the Guards Vans.

I think that is hydrofluoric acid,really nasty stuff.So I am told if you get it on your hands it is impossible to remove or neutralise ,amputation being the only 'cure'.

It is not impossible to neutralise an acid or alkali. You may need massive amounts of water to clean it off, to the point that it's ineffective for any decent period of time. An alkali would neutralise it quicker, but you're unlikely to get hold of anything of any decent strength until it's too late.

IF IN DOUBT - DO NOT TOUCH