RAILWAY SAFETY

We have been asked to share rail safety information with parents and carers ahead of the summer holidays. In recent years there has been increasing numbers of young people risking their lives because they are choosing to go on to the railway. There are many different reasons young people make this choice, it could be to pick something up that has dropped onto the tracks , maybe a phone, it could be to take a short cut or it could be a dare but regardless of the reasons for making the choice every time a young person goes onto the tracks they are risking serious life changing injury or even death.

Most young people are not aware of the risks associated with the railway - they do not tend to know that the live third rail has 750v of direct current which is always on whether or not a train is approaching. This gap in knowledge creates the biggest risk for young people around the railway and it important young people have the right information so they can make safer choices for themselves.

Please remind your child of the following@

• The rail network is never switched off. Electricity powers the overhead cables and third rail 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Passenger services are not the only users of the rail network. Freight trains run all through the day and night.
• Never anticipate that you know when the next train is due. Fewer passenger trains running on the rail network allows more freight services to operate during the day, transporting vital goods around the country. A freight train can travel at up to 100mph

You can also share this video with them which is suitable for secondary school aged children.

For KS1 students please use this video.

For KS2 students please use this video.