WARNING FOR PUTTING LIVES ON THE LINE

Rail trespassers are being put on notice after it was revealed more than 2,100 illegal incidents have been recorded on the Sydney Trains network in the past 12 months.

Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said people were putting lives at risk.

"People are playing Russian roulette with a 400-tonne train and it needs to stop," Mr Constance said.

"There are no short-cuts or pranks for social media worth risking your life for.

"We have seen ludicrous cases of young people cutting across tracks with seconds to spare or buffer riding on trains, seemingly unaware of the grave danger they are putting themselves, and others, in.

"People need to know trains travel at speeds of more than 100km/h, they take a significant distance to stop and give little to no warning of their approach."

Sydney Trains Chief Executive Howard Collins said the 14th Annual Rail Safety Week is a good opportunity to encourage customers to stay safe.

"It might sound obvious, but trains, like any vehicle, are dangerous machines, and it is very important to be cautious when on our network," Mr Collins said.

"The best way to stay safe is to stay behind the yellow line, listen to our station staff and follow the safety rules.

"Some positive news is the number of trespassing incidents has reduced by almost a third in the past five years, but more than 2,100 incidents is still significant and of concern."

Executive Director for the TrackSAFE Foundation, Naomi Frauenfelder said: "This week is Rail Safety Week, but rail safety is a year-round commitment. We applaud the NSW Government, Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink for sending important messages to the community to be aware and alert when interacting with the rail network. It cannot be stated enough; rail safety is everyone's responsibility."

Offenders caught trespassing face a maximum penalty of $5,500.