The main mode of transport in the Republic of Belarus is railways. They link all regions into a single whole, meet the population's transportation needs, and ensure the normal circulation of industrial and agricultural products.

Rail transport is a mode of transport that operates around the clock, regardless of the season or weather conditions. Railways have various engineering structures, technical devices, and facilities, the main ones being the railway track, rolling stock, locomotive and carriage facilities, signaling and communications structures and devices, as well as power supply systems. Recently, the issues of injuries and train safety have become particularly acute on the railways.

Measures to ensure public safety at railway transport facilities include:

prevention of non-occupational injuries;

prevention of traffic accidents involving road and rail transport;

prevention of robberies, thefts, hooliganism, and fraud;

prevention of vandalism of structures and damage to property of transport enterprises, including the application of graffiti-style inscriptions to carriages and buildings;

prevention of offenses that pose a threat to the safe movement of trains.

In order to prevent injuries and deaths of people at railway transport facilities, preventive measures are carried out – raids, targeted operations on railway stretches and station areas in places where citizens cross railway tracks en masse in unauthorized locations.

The main types of offenses are:

Throwing stones at the windows of passing trains – if a stone breaks a window and enters a carriage where people are present, the citizen faces liability under Article 339 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (punishable by community service, or a fine, or correctional labor for up to two years, or arrest, or restriction of liberty for up to three years).

Crossing railway tracks in an unauthorized place entails liability under Part 4 of Article 18.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus (entails a fine of up to two basic units).

Placing foreign objects (stones, sticks, metal objects) on the tracks that can disrupt train movement entails liability under Part 1 of Article 18.2 of the Administrative Offenses Code of the Republic of Belarus (resulting in a fine of two to ten basic units). If a train crash occurs as a result of such a hooligan act, punishment is imposed under Article 309 of the Criminal Code (Intentional disabling of a vehicle or transport routes).

Drinking alcoholic beverages in a train car – if a person is brought to responsibility for drinking alcoholic beverages for the first time, then Part 1 of Article 19.3 of the Administrative Offenses Code of the Republic of Belarus applies (resulting in a fine of up to eight basic units); if repeated within a year, then Part 2 of Article 19.3 of the Administrative Offenses Code of the Republic of Belarus applies (resulting in a fine of two to fifteen basic units, or community service, or administrative arrest).

Unauthorized stopping of a train without need by pulling the emergency brake valve, or in any other way, entails liability under Part 1 of Article 18.3 of the Administrative Offenses Code of the Republic of Belarus (resulting in a fine of six tenths to three basic units). If during emergency braking any passenger is injured or suffers less serious bodily injuries, punishment is imposed under Article 312 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (punishable by corrective labor for up to two years, or arrest, or imprisonment for up to seven years).

If you are tired of waiting at a railway crossing at a prohibitory traffic light signal and, out of anger, smash the crossing signaling equipment, you face liability for intentional damage to railway tracks, track facilities, structures, signaling and communication devices under Part 2 of Article 18.2 of the Administrative Offenses Code of the Republic of Belarus (resulting in a fine of twenty to fifty basic units). If this leads to grave consequences, for example, a train crash, then liability is accordingly under Article 309 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus.

By doing so, we will preserve our own lives and health and those of our loved ones!

Vladimir Gutyrchik

Head of the Regional Railway Transport Control Department in Baranovichi of the Transport Inspection branch

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