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Tuesday 20 Jun 2017

Football tournament tackles rail safety in Wales

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

Welsh school children have been given life-saving lessons in rail safety while taking part in a football tournament.

Year 8 pupils from schools across South Wales were invited to join the Railway Safety Cup. During the tournament, Network Rail, British Transport Police and Arriva Trains Wales worked together to teach young people about rail safety.

Swansea’s Bishop Vaughan Catholic School won the five-a-side tournament for the boys and Caerleon Comprehensive School were the champions of the girls’ tournament. There was an extra special surprise at the Merthyr Tydfil regional heat, when ex-Swansea City and current Llanelli Town footballer, Lee Trundle, presented the winning team Y Pant Comprehensive with their medals.

The event, now in its seventh year, educates young people about the dangers of the railway and trespass in an engaging manner outside of the classroom environment. It also promotes alternative activities for youngsters to discourage them from going near the tracks. The message has now been rolled out to over 3,000 children via this annual tournament.

During the tournament, each team of Year 8 pupils received a hard-hitting safety presentation from police community support officers and Arriva Trains Wales train drivers, which featured young people, families and rail industry staff explaining how they had had been affected by trespass on the railway.

Andy Thomas, route managing director for Network Rail, said: “Britain has the safest railway in Europe, but we can’t be complacent. We know boredom is often a big factor in young people’s decisions to mess around on the railway, putting their lives and the lives of others at risk.

“As the railway gets busier and we continue our improvements for passengers as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan, we need 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.

“We want to get everyone home safe every day. Working with our partners at  British Transport Police and Arriva Trains Wales, this tournament helps us to explain these dangers to young people and it also shows them that there are more positive ways to spend their time as we head towards the summer.”

Inspector Mike Edwards, who is in charge of BTP’s Welsh Neighbourhood Policing Teams, said: “Not only does this tournament allow pupils to take part in the football competition, it also gives us an invaluable opportunity to raise awareness of safety within the railway environment.

“While clearly enjoying themselves on the football pitch, it has been extremely encouraging to see the youngsters take on board the inherent dangers of railway trespass and the consequences this could have on themselves and their families.

“Our Community Support Officers, work extremely hard in organising the tournament, which is now in its seventh year and continues to go from strength to strength. The continued support of schools from across Wales reflects the positive engagement they have in their respective communities.”

Research shows young people are more likely to take a risk on the tracks during the spring and summer. The lighter evenings usually show an increase in trespass cases, some of which include vandalism. In 2016/17, there were 692 incidents of trespass in Wales, according to British Transport Police’s figures.

 

To find out how to keep your children safe on the railway this summer visit:

www.networkrail.co.uk/trespass

http://www.btp.police.uk/advice_and_information/tackling_crime/trespass.aspx

 

Notes to editors

Schools from the following areas took part in the boys’ tournament final:

Bishopston

Bishop Vaughan

Cefn Hengoed

Ystalyfera

Cwmtawe

Dyffryn

Bishop of Llandaff

Whitchurch

Fitzalan

Caerleon

Y Pant

Porth

St. John the Baptist

Aberdare

 

Schools from the following areas took part in the girls’ tournament:

Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Plasmawr

Caerleon Comprehensive School

Cathays High School

Whitchurch high

Fitzalan High School

Cardinal Newman

Tonyrefail

St Johns

Porth

Bishop Vaughan

Pentrehafod

Cefn Hengoed

Ysgol Bae Baglan

YGG Ystalyfera

Bishop Gore

Morriston