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Friday 27 May 2016

Bridgend school children learn about the dangers of the railway through interactive Network Rail safety sessions

Bridgend school children have been learning about the dangers of the railway through interactive sessions hosted by Network Rail this month.

During May the sessions were delivered to Year 6 pupils at primary schools across the county, organised as part of the RESOLVEit Crucial Crew safety initiative, which concluded on Tuesday 24 May at Bettws Community Club.

Bridgend County Borough is one of the top five counties in Wales to record the highest number of incidents of trespass and railway crime, with 49 incidents recorded between April 2015 and March 2016. Of the 49 incidents 37 were for trespassing on the railway, one of the key themes presented to pupils during the Crucial Crew sessions.

The deadly dangers of misusing an electrified railway was also an important safety message presented during the sessions as work to electrify the South Wales Mainline continues, part of the company’s Railway Upgrade Plan to provide better, more reliable journeys for passengers across Britain.

Pete Walsh, Network Rail education provider, said: “The workshops we deliver are designed to be both impactful and memorable.

“We’re also pleased to be able to deliver the sessions through the medium of Welsh, allowing us to reach an even higher volume of children through the short twelve minute sessions.”

Tracey Young, community safety manager for Network Rail Wales, said: “Britain has the safest railway in Europe but still too many people lose their lives on the tracks.

“The Crucial Crew sessions are fun and interactive so we really engage with young people and drive home these extremely important rail safety messages.

“As the railway continues to gets busier we must continue to work even harder to keep young people safe by making them aware of the dangers that exist. Taking a short cut or messing around on the tracks can result in serious life-changing injuries or death.”

The RESOLVEit Crucial Crew sessions will be hosted at schools across Herefordshire during June as Network Rail Wales continues its work and commitment to delivering vital rail safety education to young people.

Notes to Editors:

Crucial Crew is a multi-agency event delivering life-saving safety and personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) workshops to 10-12 year olds across Wales led by RESOLVEit.

Further details on safety education can be found on the Network Rail website: www.networkrail.co.uk/safetyeducation and www.rail-life.co.uk

 

Picture caption:

 Network Rail Education Provider Llew Davies is pictured with Year 6 pupils from Ysgol Cwm Garw.