Rubber (like on the bottom of your shoes) does not conduct electricity. You're alright to step all over the rails.
The problem arises when you touch the live rail with your bare skin (which does conduct electricty) AND you are earthed at the same time. For instance, tripping over and falling onto the live rail.
Electricity is "lazy". It will always take the easiest route. If the easiest route is through you and into the ground, then you are fucked.
Im pretty sure that Dreamy Days is correct - the electricity is only activated when a train is passing by.
Dummyrun - which writer are you talking about, with 1st degree burns?
A similar thing happened to a very good friend of mine, but he was standing next to a laid-up train and it was raining heavily.
His clothes were wet (water conducts electricity) which earthed him. When the electricity arched up through the rain and entered his wrist, the easiest route for the electricity to take was through his body and into the ground. He spasmed and was drawn to the live rail, screaming his head off.
He now has a large scar, about the size of a 2p coin, in his wrist (entrance wound) and a matching one just above his elbow, where I grabbed him to pull him off the live rail (exit wound). Luckily, I managed to pull him with enough force to break his contact with the live rail, otherwise we would both have been fucked, as the electricty was going through both of us at that point.
The doctor said that he should have died, that night.
Have respect for the tracks, but don't be afraid of them.