First Hull Trains has welcomed a new Act of Parliament expected to help curb metal theft across the regions’ railway network.

Richard Parry, the acting managing director at First Hull Trains, said he believes the new powers under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 will help reduce the number of thefts.

The Act imposes a number of restrictions on the scrap metal industry; including requiring dealers to be licensed, giving police stronger powers to raid and close scrap yards, and requiring anyone selling scrap to provide proof of identity.

Mr Parry said: “This Act will help to tackle a problem which has - on occasions - seriously inconvenienced passengers when lines are closed for long periods. We welcome the commitment of our politicians to address this issue.”

First Hull Trains transports almost 800,000 passengers a year across 90 journeys a week between Hull and London King’s Cross, using a network of more than 200-miles of track.

Mr Parry was speaking after the Act was given Royal Assent in the House of Commons last Thursday and after the Association of Train Operating Companies’ (ATOC) chief executive Michael Roberts has written to MPs and Peers involved in successfully passing the new law to thank them.

The Act replaces the 1964 Act and now officially on the statute books, the Home Office is expected to soon announce guidance and a formal date of implementation prior to Parliament’s summer recess in July.