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Thursday 19 Jun 2025

The Romsey School recognised for rail safety work with Network Rail and South Western Railway

Region & Route:

Southern: Wessex

| Southern

Network Rail and South Western Railway presented The Romsey School with a special plaque in recognition of the work the school has done to promote rail safety with their students.

The presentation of this plaque is part of Network Rail and South Western Railway’s Rail Safe Wessex campaign, a long-term project which publicly recognises schools that have committed to partnering with the rail industry to keep young people safe.

As part of this partnership, pupils at the school also designed a new mural that was unveiled at Romsey station, helping spread the message of rail safety. This latest mural is one of a number of artworks at the station created in partnership with Network Rail, South Western Railway and local artists.

This academic year 130 schools across the Wessex route, which connects London Waterloo with Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Somerset and Devon as well as the Isle of Wight, have participated and qualified for a Rail Safe Wessex plaque, and 80 stations are soon to receive a plaque honouring their hard work.

Mark Goodall, Network Rail’s Wessex route director, said: “The railway can be dangerous if misused. Trains are heavy and need long distances to stop, and there are hazards like the electric rail. However, safe train travel is a great experience. By working with schools, we aim to teach the next generation how to use our network safely.

“We engage with schools in various ways – we offer free rail safety sessions, we offer Try the Train initiatives and we also collaborate with schools to improve the look and feel of stations.

“We appreciate the support from these schools and look forward to collaborating with others to promote safe behaviours for communities and passengers.”

Jane Lupson, Safety and Security Director at South Western Railway, commented: “Safety is always our top priority, so it’s fantastic to see so many schools across our network recognised for their outstanding work in this area. 

“Initiatives like Rail Safe Wessex, along with our continuous engagement with schools, play a vital role in educating young people about railway safety, helping them travel with confidence throughout their lives.”

Gemma Penny, Teacher of Art, Design & Technology and Photography at The Romsey School, said: I think the level of creativity from the students is what’s made me so proud. It’s helped bridge the connection between the station staff and our students; they are more than the schoolkids that get on the train in the morning. Now we’ve got this artwork in the tunnel and in the underpass, which has a mosaic, it’s brought about a creative signpost of the safest way around the station. It’s fostered that respect between our students and the station it makes it more likely to let them treat this space better and safer.

The Romsey School students speak about their artwork and creativity in the below video: