Media centre

Friday 10 Sep 2021

New station safety campaign launched at Bristol Temple Meads and Reading stations

Region & Route:

Wales & Western

| Wales & Western: Western

Network Rail has launched a new campaign to educate passengers on the importance of safety in railway stations and encourage passengers to be careful around stations.

The launch of the ‘Don’t Learn Safety by Accident’ campaign is aimed at passengers who are less inclined to engage with safety messaging and encourages them to take greater consideration of their safety whilst in railway stations.

The campaign will be supported by a range of signage and posters at the stations using characterful, colourful illustrations and memorable messaging to illustrate the safety risks in stations and reiterate the safety advice for how to prevent such incidents.

With the summer holidays having now ended and many people returning to work as well as the start of a new school year, this campaign has been launched to coincide with the anticipated increase in passenger numbers.

Since last August there has been a total of 208* incidents including slips, trips and falls at Bristol Temple Meads and Reading stations. 116 incidents were recorded at Bristol Temple Meads, 42 of which related to accidents on the stairs, while 92 incidents were recorded at Reading station, 58 of which were related to accidents on escalators.

The station teams at Bristol Temple Meads and Reading have provided the following top tips to stay safe in a railway station:

• Use lifts or step-free routes where available if you’re carrying luggage
• Don't rush when moving up or down stairs or escalators. Hold the handrail and concentrate on your footing to avoid stumbling or losing your balance
• Wear sensible footwear
• Avoid running at stations, especially in wet weather. Walk, don’t run
• Stay behind the marked yellow/white platform edge lines whilst waiting on the platforms
• Make sure you apply the brakes to prams and strollers, and always position parallel to the tracks
• Mind the gap between the train and the platform. Unfortunately, we can’t reduce the gaps between trains and platforms. Take extra care
• If you are feeling unwell, let a member of station staff know
• Look out for signs and posters that will help you get around the station easily and safely.

Andy Phillips, Network Rail station manager, Reading Station and Bristol Temple Meads Station, said: “Keeping everyone safe – from our workforce to our passengers – is at the heart of everything we do and we’re delighted to be launching this important safety campaign in Bristol and Reading.

“Although our stations already have numerous safety information displayed, we wanted to connect with those passengers who perhaps take less consideration about their own safety when in our stations as these passengers are arguably those who are most likely to experience a slip, trip or fall.

“The posters, banners and graphics we have installed at Bristol Temple Meads and Reading stations we hope will grab people’s attention and convey out latest safety messaging in a fun and engaging way.”

For more information about station safety please visit https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/safety-in-the-community/station-safety/