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Saturday 12 Mar 2005

RAILWAY SAFETY: WRESTLING WITH YOUR CONSCIENCE

Region & Route:

| Southern

As part of National Railway Crime Week 2005, Broxbourne residents have been invited to participate in a rail safety day today (Saturday 12 March) at Waltham Cross town centre.  Rail industry representatives and police officers will be on hand between 11am and 3pm to give advice about railway safety and the dangers of railway crime.  Visitors will also be able to get involved with demonstrations, safety based competitions and give-aways. Waltham Cross is a recognised railway crime ‘hotspot’, where 14 incidents of trespass or vandalism were reported on the railway last year.  A further 59 incidents were reported in other parts of Broxbourne in 2004 and 77 in Enfield, other hotspots including Enfield Lock, Slipe Lane level crossing and Cheshunt.  The most common offenders are young people aged 8-16 years and most of these are male. Iain Coucher, Network Rail’s Deputy Chief Executive, said “Last year 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, play on or use as a short-cut.       The school holidays are a peak time for these incidents so we need to hammer home the railway safety message to prevent further tragedies.” This year, Network Rail has teamed up with the British Wrestling Association (BWA) to launch a new rail safety campaign called No Messin’, which encourages young people to focus on sport and ‘healthy’ activities, rather than playing on railway tracks.  A team of wrestlers from the BWA are attending the Waltham Cross rail safety day, where visitors can watch wrestling demonstrations and find out more about the sport.  National Railway Crime Week marks the beginning of a year long programme of rail safety events nationwide, which will be concentrated in hotspot areas. These will include school visits, after-school clubs, football coaching and the No Messin’ wrestling sessions.  Iain Coucher continued: “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’.” The Waltham Cross rail safety awareness day is hosted by Broxbourne Council, in partnership with the rail industry.