Network Rail has launched a series of films that use production techniques more commonly seen on the big screen to get the message about the importance of rail safety to school children.

To educate school children about the deadly risks they expose themselves to if they trespass on or around railway lines, where 77 children put themselves in dangerous situations each week, five educational films have been produced using big-screen special effects. Designed for showing in schools, there is an animated film for older Key Stage 2 pupils, and four live-action films for Key Stages 3 and 4.

The launch has been timed to coincide with the onset of warmer weather, when there is generally an increase in the number of people straying onto railway lines. In 2025, 57% incidents where children trespassed on railway lines happened between April and August.

The films are being introduced as a prelude to rail safety becoming a compulsory part of the national curriculum later this year. To get the message home, the films use realistic scenarios and visual effects, such as showing the consequences of coming into contact with electrified third rails and overhead power lines, which is a danger that is often invisible or underestimated.

To ensure the content is medically accurate and suitable for classroom use, input came from frontline medical professionals, and used controlled special effects to depict injuries based on real-life clinical cases@Input also came from film industry specialists with experience on Netflix productions and TV and film productions, including The Game of Thrones and the Harry Potter film franchise.

Network Rail is also using virtual reality to teach the importance of staying safe on the railway and the dangers of trespassing, and is using drones in its fight against lineside fires that spread because of the actions of trespassers.

“Britain has one of the safest railways in the world, but if you don’t stick to the rules or if you stray out of bounds, you put yourself at risk of harm. This new series of films has been produced to ensure that young people get important life-saving rail safety information in an engaging and memorable way. The films show what the real consequences of coming into contact with the dangers around the railway are. “With trespass incidents peaking during the summer months, it is vital that our children understand the risks now, so they know how to keep themselves out of harm’s way.”

Louise McNally, trespass prevention lead at Network Rail