Media centre

Wednesday 23 Mar 2005

NO MESSIN’ ON OUR RAILWAYS SAYS NETWORK RAIL

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

Today saw the South Wales launch of Network Rail’s ‘No Messin’ railway safety campaign at Cardiff City Football Club. Over 1,000 railway crime incidents have been recorded in the last 12 months in the region.  St Fagans is a particular hotspot with 14 incidents reported in the past year, almost half involving children. As a result, Network Rail has developed the ‘No Messin’ safety campaign, stylised to fit today’s popular culture and aimed at those aged between ten and 16 years-old. Peter Leppard, Network Rail’s Acting Western Route Director, said: “Last year in the UK, 34 people died on railway tracks – that’s 34 too many. Each one represents a tragic story of ignoring all the warnings that the railway is not a place to hang around, use as a short-cut or to play on. The school holidays, especially Easter and summer, are a time when such incidents are likely to rise and we need to hammer home the railway safety message in an effort to prevent further tragedies.” Lee Robinson, Community Development Manager for Cardiff City FC, adds:  “We currently also operate the Rail Safe programme in problem areas including Newport, Cardiff, Rhondda, Cynon, Taf, Caerphilly and Bridgend. The project is delivered by Cardiff City Football in the Community Development Officers and takes the form of school assemblies, presentations and poster competitions, as well as through our after school clubs. “This is currently effected through 80 schools this season and we are continuing to expand the annual programme. This is proving particularly popular for the Football Development Officers and children who want to learn about railways.” Over the coming months, ‘No Messin’ will be rolled out, nationwide, at lots of different events and in particular focused in hotspot areas where railway crime is highest.  Peter Leppard concludes: “As the infrastructure owner, we have a responsibility to spread the message that the railway can be a dangerous place.  You wouldn’t try to use a motorway as a short cut or a place to hang out – so why the railway?  Our message is clear: No Messin’.”