Candy striped suits with flashing lights and bells are being used to highlight Kiwi Rail's main message during Rail Safety Week - to keep people off railway tracks.

In the last seven months alone nine people have been killed while trespassing on railway lines, including a death in Otumoetai on August 2.

Using their brains - Andy Nicholson and Azziz Al-Sa'afin bringing attention to Rail Safety Week.

This week's Rail Safety Week campaign is aimed at reducing the amount of trespassing and improving pedestrian safety around the rail network with its slogan - 'use your brain – tracks are for trains”.

The actors and the ex-Wellington Sevens costumes add light relief to a serious message. People have been killed on the railway tracks in Tauranga at both sites the actors visited today – at Matapihi, and on The Strand.

'Our message is to use your brains and focus on what you are doing,” says Jenni Austin from KiwiRail.

'The train drivers can't stop. By the time they see someone step out in front of the train, it's too late to do anything except hit the horn and lean on the brakes.”

It takes a fully laden train moving at speed about 1km to stop, says Jenni.

She says trains can't swerve, and they are travelling faster than they look.

'Use your heads take care of yourself at the crossings,” says Jenni.

'The other message for the young ones is don't be distracted. Turn off the mp3 players, turn the hoodies back, take the time to have a good look and focus on what they are doing.”

Trespassing can include taking short cuts down or across tracks; using tracks as a footpath between stations; loitering around railway property; and committing acts of vandalism in the rail corridor.

Trespassing on rail tracks is the leading cause of railway related deaths in New Zealand. Since 2000, 147 pedestrians have died on railway tracks, of which 126 were classified as trespass.

KiwiRail is also running an online rail safety quiz at www.kiwirail.co.nz , where people can enter a free prize draw to win one of the following: an iPad 2; a family return ticket, plus car, on the Interislander ferry; a family return ticket on one of the KiwiRail scenic train journeys (the Northern Explorer, Coastal Pacific or TranzAlpine); or a $20 iTunes voucher (one of ten).

Rail Safety Week is an annual Australasian event organised in Australia by the Australian Rail Association, and by KiwiRail and the Chris Cairns Foundation in New Zealand. RSW provides an annual focus for raising awareness of rail safety. Every year there is a different campaign and a range of activities to encourage behaviour change and improve rail safety.

Previous campaigns have focused on motorists to try to reduce the number of collisions at public level crossings.

Trespassing is illegal and punishable by up to $10,000.

Associate Transport Minister Simon Bridges says Rail Safety Week is a timely reminder for all drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to be aware of the dangers around rail tracks and crossings.

'We have too many avoidable tragedies on our rail network, so I'm urging everyone to remember this year's Rail Safety Week theme ‘use your brain, tracks are for trains'.

The Government contributes up to $1million per year to upgrade level crossings with warning lights, bells, and barriers. This is made up of $500,000 from the Crown and $500,000 from the New Zealand Transport Agency.

'Of course there is only so much the Government can do,” says Simon.

'It is everyone's responsibility to take time and care in making decisions around train tracks and stations. As we continue to see, this can make the difference between life and death.”

Rail Safety Week runs from 13 to 19 August and is coordinated by KiwiRail and the Chris Cairns Foundation.