Media centre

Monday 28 Jan 2019

Over 1,000 pupils in North Wales taught importance of rail safety

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

Over 50,000 children from 1,000 schools across Wales and the Borders have received vital rail safety education in under three years.

Over 1,000 pupils in North Wales* have benefitted from the sessions, in areas including Flintshire, Conwy and Denbighshire.

Network Rail partnered with the Crucial Crew safety initiative in 2015 and has since been delivering sessions to school children across Wales. Crucial Crew delivers life-saving safety and personal, social, health and economic workshops to 10-12-year olds across Wales.

Emily Coughlin, community safety manager for Network Rail Wales and Borders, said: “We’re so pleased to have reached this key milestone and to have shared our crucial rail safety message with so many young people.

“The Crucial Crew sessions are fun and interactive, so we really engage with young people and drive home these extremely important safety messages.

“As the railway continues to get busier we continue to 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.”

Vicky Lane, Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education coordinator at St. Richard Gwyn Catholic High School, Flint said: ''Network Rail have provided our students with essential information in regards to railway safety for a number of years. The representatives have always been professional, friendly and very knowledgeable.

"From the feedback given by students, it made them much more aware of the many dangers around railways and the impact that poor choices can have on both themselves and others. Many of our students live near tracks and stations so it's vital that they are well informed. Network Rail provide a really important service and I look forward to their next visit.''

The Crucial Crew sessions are currently being hosted for schools across Wales and Borders as Network Rail Wales continues its work and commitment to delivering vital rail safety education to young people.