Media centre

Wednesday 29 Mar 2006

DUNFERMLINE WHIZZ KID SCOOPS TOP AWARD

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Journalists and photographers are invited to celebrate with Lachlan Peters, a smart 10-year-old from Dunfermline, who has won a national competition with his knowledge of railway safety. Lachlan, a pupil at Cairneyhill Community Primary School, triumphed over stiff competition from across the UK to win Network Rail’s online No Messin’! quiz. He will be presented with an iPod at his school assembly tomorrow (Thursday 30 March.) David Simpson, Route Director, said: “The competition was open to people across the country, so Lachlan has done extremely well to win. “Up to 60 people are killed every year by trespassing on the railway – taking short cuts, messing around or playing chicken. Every one of these deaths is avoidable. The competition was organised to help young people understand the dangers. “Trains can travel at 125mph, take the length of 20 football pitches to stop and often can’t be heard approaching, so it’s vital that young people – and adults – stay off the tracks. Lachlan has shown he knows how to stay safe. We hope other people will follow his example and check out the No Messin’! website.” No Messin’! is a railway safety campaign designed to educate young people on railway safety, and offers fun, diversionary activities to keep kids away from the tracks.  Network Rail works closely with schools, the British Transport Police and councils to highlight railway dangers. For more information about the campaign, visit www.no-messin.com