Media centre

Tuesday 17 Feb 2015

Shrewsbury Town FC and Network Rail keeping kids on the right track

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

School children were given potentially life-saving lessons at the grounds of Shrewsbury Town FC as they learned about rail safety and the dangers of trespassing on tracks.

Shrewsbury Town FC is one of ten clubs working with Network Rail's community safety managers and British Transport Police as part of a partnership with the Football League Trust to raise awareness of the dangers of the railway and build a safer community.

Player ambassador Ashley Vincent was on hand as the club ran fun sports and educational activity sessions with the children that helped to reinforce the rail safety message.

Nick Chrzanowski, community safety manager for Network Rail, said: "Every day around 24,500 trains run across the network and it's getting busier with modern, quieter trains travelling up to 125mph.

"We know of too many incidents where seemingly harmless pranks or games along the tracks have resulted in painful injury or even death.

“Shrewsbury Town and the Football League Trust can help us raise awareness of the dangers and engage kids in something much more positive. The results will be a safer community and better running railway for all."

Tragically, 164 people lost their lives after going onto railway tracks in the last five years. Of these, 70% were struck by trains with 18% suffering electrocution by coming into contact with the power supply which can be as much as 25,000 volts. The peak ages for trespass fatalities are late teens and earlier twenties, with around one in five deaths in this age group.

Shrewsbury Town player ambassador Ashley Vincent said: “Too many children sadly lose their lives or get injured every year by trespassing on the tracks. Tragically these incidents are avoidable and so it’s great to be involved in helping to get a positive message to young people that might save their lives.”

The initiative is a development of the ‘Rail Life’ programme which Network Rail has used to work with schools and community groups to get across safety messages in fun and engaging ways.

Mike Evans, director of operation at the Football League Trust, said: “Football clubs are at the heart of their communities in an emotional as well as physical sense. As such they have an incredible ability to reach people, where others may struggle. Our partnership with Network Rail shows how football can use this ability to talk to young people about a serious issue and make a positive difference to people’s lives.”