Rail Safety Programme Launched in Wales for Schools
A new educational initiative, Rail Safe Friendly, has been launched in Wales to educate young people about the dangers of trespassing on railways.
The programme, developed by Learn Live, aims to raise awareness, save lives, and prevent injuries by teaching children how to stay safe near rail networks.
The official launch took place at Ysgol Bryn Alyn in Wrexham and was attended by Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales.
Transport for Wales, Network Rail, and Learn Live partnered to bring the programme to schools, with the goal of creating a safer environment around Britain’s railways.
Ken Skates emphasised the importance of the initiative during the event, stating, “The importance of working together to educate young people about rail safety is clear. It is important to remember that the railway is safe for those who use it correctly, and safety messaging saves lives. I am pleased to be here to mark the launch of the Rail Safe Friendly campaign here in Wales.”
The programme is delivered through the Learn Live channel, which provides both live and on-demand broadcasts to classrooms.
This digital format allows teachers to integrate rail safety education into lessons and assemblies, helping schools and the rail industry collaborate on this critical issue.
Melanie Lawton, Community Rail Strategy Lead at Transport for Wales, highlighted the ongoing risks on the railways: “Trespass on the railway remains a high risk, and the risk is even greater with the introduction of Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) and increased services on the network. We are proud to partner with Learn Live to bring this programme to schools in Wales.”
Rail Safe Friendly was launched in March 2023 and is already active in nearly 6,000 UK schools. Industry partners, including Network Rail and other rail sector stakeholders, have sponsored the programme to help spread vital rail safety messages to children.
The programme consists of three levels—Bronze, Silver, and Gold—that schools can achieve by engaging with the content and sharing rail safety messages with students, parents, and the wider community.
At the Bronze level, schools must ensure all pupils and staff watch the rail safety broadcast and sign up for updates from Network Rail.
Silver level requires schools to communicate with parents and promote safety resources on their social media platforms, while Gold level asks schools to create their own rail safety materials, such as videos, podcasts, or posters.
Stuart Heaton, Managing Director of Learn Live, said, “We are delighted to be working with Transport for Wales and Network Rail Wales on the Rail Safe Friendly programme. Through their support, we will be able to reach even more children with vital rail safety awareness, with the aim of saving lives and preventing injuries on the country’s rail network and in yards, depots, and sidings.”
With the backing of local schools and organisations, the Rail Safe Friendly programme is set to become an important tool in ensuring that young people understand the dangers posed by railways.
Schools that participate at all levels of the programme will contribute to creating a safer environment for students and the wider community.
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