Is it legal to walk down railroad tracks?

Question

Is it legal to walk down railroad tracks?

Answer 1

No you are walking on private property.

Answer 2

Yes, it is illegal to be on railroad property at any time not to mention that walking down the tracks is very dangerous as well.  If you are caught on railroad property, your name and info is entered into a database (if they choose to let you go with a warning) and you could face charges at that point or if you are caught again you will definitely face charges.  The NS Police have more jurisdiction and power than State Police, so don't be mistaken that they only have jurisdiction over RR employees.  Good luck and stay safe.

I would agree Kevin, but the NS Police I have worked with have jurisdictions in several states.  State Police in only one.

Answer 3

In the USA called tresspassing and you could get cited by a cop. Do not try this dangerous

Answer 4

Is it legal?  Probably not.  

Is it a good idea?  Definitly not.

Answer 5

It depends on the location.  It is NOT illegal everywhere, but it IS dangerous everywhere.

Were there are natural waterways, which are public domain, they must be accessible to the public.

A mile or two from my house the UP runs right next to the Sacramento River.  It is the only way to access many parts of the river, including the tourist destination of Mossbrae falls.  The area is not posted 'no trespassing", but it is posted that people walking along the right of way do so at their own risk.  Railroad property extends only a couple of feet on each side of the tracks, which in this location is also in and on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest propert, and public domain.

Railroads have other track not on their property, such as in industrial parks and the leads serving them, other spurs and shippers or consignees.  Here, the other property owners will also post no trespassing warnings, but warning or no, if there, you are trespassing.

Most everywhere else, out side public domain, you are running the risk of citation or arrest when on railroad property.  If you are caught in a railroad yard, you will be arrested.  Period.  It is worse than you think.  The railroads are under the protection of the United States, and after your arrest, you'll be dealing with the Feds for that reason, if there is any remote chance that you happened to be doing something that looked 'suspicious'.

This is a bit more significant than a trespass citation.

Answer 6

NO! its illegal and very dangerous as trains are sometimes

very quite and you wont hear them when until they hit you

then its all over..

plus its also consider trespassing as well

rememebr even if you think some tracks may look adbadon

they might not be -as operation lifesaver says

ANYT TIME IS TRAIN TIME

Answer 7

h**l no you are taking your life not too serious anything can happen on the tracks and no one will be able to help you if you get into trouble when was the last time you saw a telephone booth on the tracks

Answer 8

Not legal.  RR tracks are private property, ( the railroad and you are trespassing.

Also, not too smart.

You may weigh 150-200 lbs, a train weighs several thousand tons.

Answer 9

I walked home from school several times using the tracks   for water over flowed the road , which i used most often . i could stay on the rail for a 1/2 mile  at a time before loss of balance.

Answer 10

RR Gal, the NS police or any other railroad police officer do not have more authority than a state police officer, but they do have the same authority. If something illegal is happening on railroad property, they can write tickets, use force if necessary, and arrest people.

Answer 11

It is illegal to trespass on the railway. If you walk down the rail tracks I doubt that they would charge you as you might not live long enough to be charged?

Answer 12

No, it's considered tresspassing and is illegal.  Then again, does anyone really care?  No.  Chances are you won't get in trouble (unless you're on a bridge).  They're funny about bridges now since Sept. 11th.  But if you're just walking down the track, it's illegal, but you can do it since they don't enforce it.  It's just your fault if you would get hit....but chances are you'd hear the whistle unless you're deaf..

Answer 13

No, it is considered trespassing.

Answer 14

While folks still do it all of the time (even those that know better) indeed, as above posters have already said it is technically illegal to walk over active (of even inactive if still owned) railroad right-of-ways, as it is private property and thus trespassing.