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Wednesday 21 Dec 2016

PHOTO: Newport school students urged to stay safe around the railway at Christmas

Region & Route:

| Eastern: Anglia

| Eastern

| Southern

Network Rail and The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre visited Joyce Frankland Academy in Newport, Essex on Tuesday, 13 December, to perform their hard-hitting ‘Off the Level’ production and teach students about railway safety.

The actors were joined by Tina Hughes, Network Rail’s level crossing user champion, who spoke to the pupils about the devastating impact of losing her daughter Olivia, who attended Joyce Frankland, when she and her friend Charlie were killed at Elsenham level crossing in December 2005.

Network Rail’s level crossing user champion, Tina Hughes, said: “Visiting the Joyce Frankland Academy was difficult for me especially seeing all the young students in the same uniform that Olivia wore. I can only hope that the powerful production and what I said afterwards about my personal experience will encourage them to take extra care near the railway so that their families will never have to go through such a traumatic experience.”

The play features three young friends, one of whom is hit by a train at a level crossing, and highlights the impact that this has on them, his mother, their teacher, the train driver, and a British Transport Police officer, all told through monologues, some of which are the genuine words of those affected by real events.

Kat O’Malley Network Rail’s community safety manager for Anglia said: “While it is important to stay safe near the railway all year round, Christmas is a time when people go on holiday or visit relatives, sometimes in unfamiliar places. The play is a hard-hitting reminder to students to stay safe when around the railway or at level crossings, and to be aware of their surroundings.”

Joyce Frankland Academy Principal, Gordon Farquhar said: “We always take railway safety extremely seriously at the Academy. Staff and students learnt a sombre and lasting lesson from the tragic and heartbreaking events of December 2005. We always welcome Tina Hughes to the Academy with open arms and are pleased to work with her, Network Rail and other organisations on promoting safety at level crossings to the students."

Rob Cann, education officer, Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, said: “We visited the Joyce Frankland Academy and performed the show to children aged 11 – 15 over two days. The impact of the performance was clear from the complete silence that followed from the audience. The aim was to make it clear how important it is to be aware of the potential dangers around level crossings and remind anyone who uses them to pay attention and take care.”

Network Rail is investing £100m to close or make crossings safer as part of its Railway Upgrade Plan. 

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• Off The Level addresses vital issues and is designed to save lives.