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Monday 25 Nov 2024

"No excuses, it starts with us” - Network Rail’s chief executive Andrew Haines speaks out about men’s violence against women

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National

Male leaders from across the railway industry will come together over the coming weeks in support of White Ribbon Day (25 November) - a day that calls on men never to use, excuse, or remain silent about violence against women and girls.

In support of this year’s theme – It Starts with Men - a panel discussion will bring together male leaders from across the rail industry, including Network Rail’s Chief Executive, Andrew Haines, to discuss the critical role men must play in addressing gender-based violence.

Speaking ahead of the panel, Andrew Haines said: “We have made great strides in recent years to improve the gender balance on the railway, but it is inescapable that it’s still a male dominated industry. We have a strong leadership role to play in showing there is never an excuse for violence, and we must not ignore it. It starts with us.

“At Network Rail, we are committed to developing a zero-tolerance approach to sexist or abusive behaviours. We are actively providing training on spotting the signs of abuse and ensuring we have the right support in place to create a safer, more respectful environment for all.”

Anthea Sully, Chief Executive of White Ribbon UK, said: “It’s vital that women and girls are and feel safe on public transport. The work that Network Rail is doing to support this to happen both for customers and staff, means everyone, especially men, can better understand the role of allyship and their responsibility in creating positive cultures that enable safe spaces.

She continued, “it should not be for women to carry the burden of keeping themselves safe, White Ribbon UK calls for men to show allyship to women, to think through how their behaviour and actions can make a positive difference to the issues women face. That is why this year’s White Ribbon theme is ‘It Starts with Men’.”

Jacqueline Starr, Chief Executive of Rail Delivery Group, said: “Violence against women and girls is a societal issue that requires collective action. We are grateful for the role that our customers and staff play in looking out for each other and offering support to those who need it. But as an industry with such a high proportion of male staff we recognise the responsibility we have to show leadership and confront this problem head-on.

"At Rail Delivery Group we are working closely with our industry partners on our shared commitment to tackle this issue, so that we can create a safe, inclusive, and supportive railway for all.”

In recent years, the rail industry - Network Rail, Rail Delivery Group (RDG), Transport for London (TfL), and the British Transport Police (BTP) - has raised awareness and have put measures in place to ensure the safety of women and girls who work and travel on the rail network. These include: 

Railway Guardian App: In partnership with the British Transport Police, the Railway Guardian app has been launched. This free, all-in-one safety app allows users to report crimes or concerns on the rail network, share journeys with trusted contacts, and access relevant news, safety guides, and support resources.

Railway Campaign Against Sexual Harassment: Transport for London (TfL), in collaboration with the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), British Transport Police (BTP), Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), Network Rail, and various women’s safety groups, launched a campaign to address and prevent sexual harassment on public transport. This campaign emphasises the diverse forms of unwanted sexual behaviour that can occur. It sends a clear message to offenders: sexual harassment will not be tolerated on TfL and rail services.

Harassment VR Headsets: The RDG introduced an immersive VR experience to encourage bystander intervention, empowering individuals to recognise and combat sexual harassment on the railway. This initiative launched at Waterloo Station and has since toured Network Rail-managed stations.

It Starts with Men panel event (Friday, December 6th) is open to all rail industry professionals and the public by registration. It will focus on creating a safer rail and transport industry for women. The panellists will be Andrew Haines, CEO, Network Rail, Stuart Calvert, Capital Delivery Director, Network Rail Eastern, Charlie Doyle, Assistant Chief Constable, British Transport Police, and Matt Rice, Chief Operating Officer, Northern.

White Ribbon logos will be displayed at Network Rail managed stations to raise awareness for the campaign along with hosted events, with trained volunteers, at stations including Birmingham New Street, Leeds, Manchester Piccadilly, Kings Cross, Waterloo, and Liverpool Lime Street.

You can make the White Ribbon Promise, never commit, excuse, or remain silent about domestic violence, and sign up to be a White Ribbon Ambassador at https://www.whiteribbon.org.uk/