Pokemon GO: Train danger alert as craze appears on tracks

The chosen sites, which often see young people gathered there with their phones in hand, are raising mounting concerns.

This week, Network Rail has posted pictures showing Pokémon characters on railway tracks.

And it comes as the British Transport Police release figures showing trespass is on the rise in the West Midlands.

In a statement with the postings of the railway-based Pokémon creatures, Network Rail said: "As schools finish for the summer, here's another reminder in the interests of safety – and particularly for parents with children who may be playing the game."

The organisation took the opportunity to issue warnings and advice.

MORE: Top Pokemon GO hot spots in the Midlands and Shropshire

They included remembering to stop, look and listen when approaching the railway and to concentrate as it's easy to get distracted by phone, music or by catching Pokémon.

The statement continued: "It is illegal, and very dangerous to trespass on the railway – don't risk it for a game.

"Railway stations are for everyone to enjoy, but please be respectful of other station users."

The warnings come as the British Transport Police release figures on trespassing on the region's railways.

It showed there had been an increase in incidents at stations in the area, up from 109 in 2013 to 148 last year.

But in Wolverhampton, the number of incidents has actually fallen from 19 in 2013 to 13 last year.

The police are concerned the longer evenings and start of the school holidays could see a further increase across the West Midlands.

Both the police and Network Rail are urging parents to warn their children of the dangers of playing on the tracks.

Over the past decade, 170 young people have been killed while trespassing on the railway.

Nick Jordan, community safety manager for Network Rail, said: "Trespassing on the railway is a criminal offence.

"However its impact goes way beyond that.

"One simple act of entering onto the railway can permanently affect the lives of dozens of innocent people, including the family of those trespassing as well as railway workers, the emergency services and rail users.

"Network Rail continues to make improvements to Britain's railway and safety is at front and centre of everything that we do.

"One person injured on Britain's rail network is one too many."

The Pokémon craze is not just impacting the railways.

At Royal Stoke University Hospital's accident and emergency department, The University Hospitals of North Midlands has said a Pokémon Go 'gym' has been sited, where players have battles using their creatures.

Clinical staff have stated that no-one should attempt to enter the accident and emergency department to play the game.

Should problems arise from the public misusing the department to play Pokémon Go then the hospital trust has said it will have no choice but to contact the game's developer and have the 'gym' removed.

Kevin Parker, associate chief nurse, said: "I don't play the game myself, but I'm aware how popular it has become.

"I'm also aware of various reports in the media of 'unsafe' areas that the game has been played in."

Emerging

Since the game arrived in the UK, there have been near-constant horror stories emerging of drivers playing the game while at the wheel of their car.

And at New Brighton marina in Merseyside, it was said a group of youngsters were spotted stealing a boat to chase a Pokémon onto the lake.

It comes a week after a 27-year-old man was stopped by police believed to have been playing the game on his mobile phone while behind the wheel in Stourbridge. The driver was stopped in Birmingham Street, near to the Stourbridge ring road.

He was given a penalty ticket and reported to traffic process office.

Officers tweeted under the Stourbridge Police account: "Male caught Stourbridge ring road on mobile phone, we suspect Pokémon but the ticket will poke this mon #PokémonGO."

It came on the same day it emerged a Pokémon Go player called 999 to tell police officers that someone had 'stolen their Pokémon'.

The gaming fan decided to contact Gloucestershire Police as an emergency while using the hugely popular app on the day after its UK launch.

Police gave the player some 'words of advice' on when it is appropriate to call 999.