Trespassing on railway property is illegal—and the consequences can be irreversible.
Walking along railway tracks, taking shortcuts across railway property, or entering it for a photo, video or other activities can put your life at risk. And when an incident happens, the impact rarely ends with the person involved. Families, friends, railway employees, first responders and entire communities can be affected long after that moment.
That reality is at the heart of Operation Lifesaver Canada’s #STOPTrackTragedies campaign. Through firsthand testimonials, #STOPTrackTragedies shares the stories of people whose lives have been forever changed by trespassing incidents on railway property.
One of those stories is that of Tanner Sabila-Azzopardia, a 15‑year‑old who was killed by a train in 2011 while walking along tracks with friends. In the video, Tanner’s mother and sister reflect on their loss and speak openly about the importance of staying away from railway property.
Another story is that of Dylan Ford, a 17-year-old who was struck and killed by a train in 2010 while doing graffiti on railway property. He was one of five teens who had climbed over a concrete wall to spray-paint on a railway tunnel. Dylan and two other boys were killed when they couldn’t get out of the path of a passenger train.
Although the circumstances were very different, these two stories reinforce why understanding the risks of trespassing—and knowing how to stay safe around railway property—matters.
Staying safe around railway property
Railway tracks and property may look like a convenient shortcut or an interesting setting for a photo, video or graffiti, but by entering railway property you could be putting yourself directly in the path of moving trains. Trains can approach at any time and from either direction—and they can be closer and moving faster than they appear. Because of their size and weight, they also can’t stop quickly.
Staying safe means keeping off railway tracks and property and using designated routes and railway crossings to get where you are going. At crossings, signs, signals and warning devices are there to tell you when it is safe to cross.
Preventing trespassing is a priority for Operation Lifesaver Canada. Our goal is to give Canadians the information they need to make informed, rail-safe decisions, by helping people better understand the risks associated with railway property and the behaviours that can help keep them safe.
During Rail Safety Week 2026, take a few minutes to watch our #STOPTrackTragedies videos and explore our safety resources. Share what you learn with your family, friends and community.
Stay off the tracks. Stay off railway property. There’s no “undo” button.
