NETWORK Rail has paid out more than £770,000 in compensation to train companies as a result of cable thefts in Lancashire and Cumbria in the past three years.

Services have been delayed by more than 119 hours during the same period as cable thieves target the railway for metal to sell as scrap.

The cables control vital rail infrastructure such as signals and points, causing delays to tens of thousands of trains and millions of people.

Figures released by Network Rail today reveal a £43m cost to this crime-spree over the past three years nationally.

Jo Kaye, route director at Network Rail, said: “These criminal acts have to stop.

“Every day passengers and essential freight deliveries upon which our economy relies are being delayed by thieves looking to make a quick buck at our expense.

“I cannot over-emphasise just how serious these crimes are.

"Cable thieves deny passengers the service they rightly expect and, through the massive cost to the industry, deny everyone improvements to rail services.

“We are doing everything we can to protect the railway and will continue to work closely with British Transport Police and other rail partners to do everything in our power to deter thieves and bring those who attack our network to justice."

Detective Inspector Andrea Rainey, of British Transport Police, said: “The railways have seen significant delays and cancellations as a result of thieves cutting and stealing signalling and power cables from the side of the track.

“But we are working to tackle the issue and in the past few months have seen significant jail sentences handed down to cable thieves put before the courts.

“We are determined to send a clear message that such attacks on our critical infrastructure are unacceptable and the police and rail industry are working together to tackle the problem.”