Parents are being warned by rail operators to make sure they know where their children are during the school holidays.
The dangers of playing near rail tracks was brought home last week following the conviction of two parents who let children play on a rail bridge near Aberystwyth in Wales.
Their daughter, aged seven, and her playmate, aged eight, were killed instantly after being hit by a train.
Sussex rail operator Connex has a team of school liaison officers who make visits to schools throughout the year warning them of the dangers of playing near the line, the perils of railway trespass and foolhardy behaviour on stations and trains.
There is a continuous live power rail carrying 750 volts on most Sussex lines and some trains travel at speeds of up to 100 mph. A train travelling at 100mph takes a mile to stop.
Connex managing director Oliver Brousse said: "We depend on the support of teachers and parents to reinforce our vital safety message and be sure that all children in their care are playing safely."
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