The Risk of Damage to Reailway Infrastructure Due to Theft and Devastation

Theft and devastation of railway infrastructure are one of the most important factors that affect the safety of the railway transport system. In Poland, the railway transported 245.1 million passengers and 243.6 million tons of cargo in 2021, so it is extremely important to ensure the maximum possible safety standards. Theft and devastation of railway infrastructure contribute to significant material damage to railway network managers. The costs of rebuilding railway equipment are estimated at millions of zlotys every year. They also influence the proper functioning of railway traffic. Due to this phenomenon, there are delays of passenger and freight trains, the total of which amounted to over 100,000 minutes in 2021. Therefore, the effects of such hooligan acts also affect passengers and commercial customers of the railways. The article is an attempt to describe the impact of theft and devastation of railway infrastructure on its safety and the operation of railway lines in Poland. By analyzing the available statistical data and using the CSM method, as well as applying certain simplifications, it was possible to determine the approximate level of risk using techniques used in practice. Based on the adopted risk reference levels, a systematic reduction in both the probability of occurrence of negative phenomena and their consequences was observed.