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Monday 22 May 2023

Network Rail and Leeds United deliver railway safety message to 600 West Yorkshire pupils

Region & Route:

Eastern

| Eastern: North & East

Between Monday 15 and Friday 19 May, Network Rail teamed up with Leeds United Foundation and rail industry partners to teach children from schools in and around West Yorkshire about the importance of rail safety.

Railway partners including the British Transport Police (BTP), Railway Children, the Rail Safety Standards Board, Samaritans, Northern, CrossCountry and Transpennine Express joined Network Rail and Leeds United Foundation to provide workshops and other activities to promote railway safety to 600 primary school pupils.

The children took part in an exciting week and got involved in a whole host of activities. They got to experience what being a train driver was like as they were given the opportunity to sit in the driver’s seat of one of Northern’s trains. The pupils were given a station tour, which helped them learn how to move around a station safely, including how to use escalators correctly and how to read departure boards.

The pupils also spent time with the BTP, who showed them how they use technology to respond to trespassers on the railway. Finally, the children had the chance to interact with Ben Parker, former player for Leeds United, as well under-21 teams' players, and the Leeds United Foundation hosted sessions with educational activities about rail safety.

Chloe Creffield, Community Safety Manager for Network Rail’s North and East Route, said: “It was great to see so many children engaged in rail safety over the course of Safety Week.

“We’ve run these sessions in partnership with Leeds United for a number of years now, and it’s fantastic that they continue to go from strength to strength. It’s so important to spread the railway safety message and we’re delighted that we managed to reach so many young people from all across West Yorkshire.

“I’d like to say a big thank you to all the schools and partners who took part this year, and we look forward to hosting many more Safety Weeks in the years to come.”

Paul Wood, inspector for British Transport Police Leeds said: "Engaging with children and young people is key to our work in ensuring the railway remains a safe place. 

"Fun and interactive events like this deliver our life saving messages in an accessible way that children can understand and feedback shows they really strike a chord with young minds."

ENDS