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Wednesday 19 Jan 2022

Network Rail nets new partnership for rail safety

Region & Route:

Scotland’s Railway: Scotland

Network Rail and Netball Scotland have formed a partnership that provides a new platform to deliver rail safety messaging to help young people stay safe around Scotland’s railway.

The partnership helps to mark Network Rail’s successful completion of the redevelopment of Glasgow Queen Street station and will engage with communities who use the station or live along the line of route.

The £120m redevelopment of the station played a critical role to enhancing the railway for passengers and was essential to the Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP) - the electrification of the main line between Edinburgh and Glasgow ,via Falkirk High, to allow longer, greener electric trains on to the network. 

The partnership harnesses a wider reach for both organisations. It will not only help to further raise awareness among young people of the importance of rail safety, but through sports programmes that encourage health and wellbeing, it will help build confidence and focus.

Working with Netball Scotland also allows Network Rail to collaborate with the Strathclyde Sirens, Scotland’s only semi-professional national female team, through it’s Sirens For Success Programme.

Members of the Strathclyde Sirens are currently running a series of workshops at schools in Glasgow to promote netball, wellbeing and mental health. As part of this activity, the Sirens will also raise the profile of rail safety, as well as the range of job opportunities Scotland’s Railway provides and the different career paths into the industry for young people.

Kris Kinnear, Network Rail capital delivery director, said: “Over the years, Network Rail has worked with several key partners as we recognise the vital part they play in helping us to engage with communities whether that is via sports, mental health organisations or charities.

“Such partnerships not only help drive our critical messaging on rail safety, but they are aligned to our social values and our long-term commitment in terms of how we can continue to make a positive contribution to the communities that we serve.”

Claire Nelson, Netball Scotland CEO, said: “I am really proud to announce this powerful new partnership with Network Rail, as we join forces to take critical and potentially lifesaving messages into secondary schools to engage, educate and empower teenage girls.

“This investment into our Sirens For Success Programme, which has already positively impacted the lives of thousands of young people across Scotland since its launch in 2017, will enable us to reach even more people and make a difference to so many more lives.

“Through the power of our sport and our athlete role models, we are committed to reducing inequalities, breaking down barriers to participation and positively impacting mental health and physical wellbeing, and through this new partnership with Network Rail we can continue to do this on a larger and more sustainable scale where it is needed most. Our thanks to Network Rail for its support and investment; together we will make a difference.”

In addition to Netball Scotland, Network Rail has worked with the Scottish Football Association since 2018 to deliver football camps and has reached over 45,000 children across Scotland as part of the programme

Further information on Network Rail is available via the national helpline on 03457 11 41 41 or on Twitter: @NetworkRailSCOT