Media centre

Monday 9 May 2016

Network Rail delivers important rail safety lessons to Rhondda Cynon Taf school children

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

Children across Rhondda Cynon Taf have been learning all about the dangers of the railway during a series of educational sessions presented by Network Rail.

The sessions were delivered to Year 7 pupils at secondary schools across the county, organised as part of the RESOLVEit Crucial Crew safety initiative, which concluded on Friday, 29 April at Pontypridd High School.

Rhondda Cynon Taf has the highest number of railway crime incidents of any county on the Wales rail route with over 140 incidents recorded between April 2015 and March 2016, 110 of which were for trespassing on the railway, one of the key themes presented to pupils during the Crucial Crew sessions.

Another important Network Rail safety message presented during the sessions were the dangers of misusing an electrified railway, as work to electrify the South Wales Mainline continues, a critical part of the Railway Upgrade Plan to provide better, more reliable journeys for passengers across Britain.

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.

“Network Rail has been working closely with the RESOLVEit Crucial Crew team to deliver sessions that 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 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 Bridgend during May as Network Rail Wales continues its work and commitment to delivering vital rail safety education to young people.

Notes to Editors:

RESOLVEit Crucial Crew delivers life-saving safety and personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) workshops to 10-12 year olds across Wales.

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