A recent rail safety event held at the historic Locomotion Museum in Shildon showcased the commitment of Network Rail and various industry partners to promote railway safety among primary school children.
Over two days, the event welcomed 200 children from primary schools in and around Darlington, providing them with an enriching educational experience and imparting crucial knowledge about rail safety.
The participating children immersed themselves in a series of engaging educational sessions and workshops that covered a wide range of topics related to railway safety.
They learned the importance of planning journeys and utilizing trains safely, emphasizing the risks associated with trespassing on railway tracks and highlighting the criticality of avoiding such activities.
One of the event's highlights was the design workshop, where the children created rail safety graphics.
These designs will be entered into the Backtrack Anti-trespass competition, organized by the Community Rail Education Network.
The winning pictures will then be utilized in rail education lessons and assemblies across the country, further amplifying the rail safety message.
In addition to the educational sessions, the children had the opportunity to explore operational vehicles belonging to the British Transport Police (BTP) and witness a drone in action.
The event was held within the Locomotion Museum's Main Hall, which houses a rich collection of historic rail vehicles, providing an immersive and inspiring backdrop for the activities.
The success of the rail safety event can be attributed to the collective efforts of various industry partners. Alongside Network Rail and BTP, participants included Northern, CrossCountry, The Railway Children Charity, and Bishop Line Community Rail Partnership.
In addition, volunteers from London North Eastern Railway, TransPennine Express, International Service System, Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership, Newcastle College's Rail Academy, and Weardale Railway also contributed their time and expertise to make the event a memorable and impactful experience for the children.
To offer a holistic learning experience, Northern arranged for some of the children to travel to and from the venue by rail.
This hands-on experience allowed the children to apply the knowledge they acquired during the event and gain a practical understanding of traveling on the railway.
Rob Merry, Community Safety Manager for Network Rail's East Coast route, said: “We're really passionate about spreading the railway safety message, so we're absolutely delighted to have taken part in this event.
“Over the past few days, the children have learned how to stay safe whilst travelling on trains, as well as the dangers which trespassing on the railway has. The event has been a great success, and we look forward to holding more days like this in the future, helping to reach even more children.”
Mary-Anne Snowdon, Inspector for the BTP, said: “What better venue to host this event than Shildon's Locomotion Museum, where children can really get to grips with learning about the railway, as well as our vital safety messages.
“The children were incredibly receptive to the presentation and, with the help of our drone, really seemed to grasp the dangers of the railway and how to stay safe.
“Events like these are key to reaching a young audience and making railway safety lessons fun and accessible.”
Simon Heritage, Deputy Head Teacher at Gurney Pease Academy, said: “This was a fantastic day, superbly organised and thoroughly enjoyed by the pupils and staff. Hopefully we can come again next year. Many thanks to all involved.”
