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Thursday 10 Mar 2005

MEDIA INVITATION: NO MESSIN’ ON THE RAILWAY

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Date:                           14 March 2005 Time:                          10.30 am Location:                    ExParks Skatepark, Xscape, Castleford Event:                         Pupils from Featherstone High School test their skateboarding skills           Media contact:          Carolyn Watson, 01904 522825        You are invited to join pupils from Featherstone High School as they learn some new skateboarding skills to mark the launch of Railway Crime Awareness Week and Network Rail’s No Messin’ campaign.  They’ll be at the ExParks Skatepark, Xscape, Castleford from 10.30am and will be joined by Graeme Smith from Galaxy 105 and players from Castleford Tigers. Last year over 4,400 acts of vandalism and trespass were committed on the railways in Yorkshire, North East and the East Coast Main Line.  Every time someone chooses to mess about on the railway they risk their own life and those of others.  Last year 34 people died whilst trespassing on railway tracks across the UK. Dyan Crowther, Route Director, Network Rail said: “Every year children are killed and injured on our railways.  Each one is a tragic story of ignoring all the warnings that the railway is not a place to hang around, use as a short cut or play on. “We are delighted to be teaming up with ExParks Skatepark at Xscape, Castleford to launch No Messin’.  This is a great example of what children should be doing – having fun in a safe environment.” The No Messin’ Campaign is aimed at 10 to 16 year olds and is stylised to fit into today’s popular culture (see jpeg attachment).  Rather than telling children what not do, the campaign suggests alternative activities to messing about on the tracks. Ed Reeve, Skate Park Manager at the Ex Park all-weather Skatepark at Xscape comments: “We are really glad to have teamed up with Network Rail for their launch as we believe that kids will get a great buzz from learning to skateboard and enjoy hanging out with other skaters, either here or outside.  Skateboarding offers kids a fun and challenging pastime which they can enjoy almost anywhere and the indoor Ex- park offers a safe park with Woodward ramps and kicking sound system whatever the weather.”