Schools across the East Midlands are being invited to take part in a new safety training scheme designed to reduce the number of accidental deaths and injuries on the rail system. The scheme is being run by East Midlands Railway (EMR) and Network Rail.
Figures from the Office of Rail and Road show that 11 people were killed in accidents while trespassing on the railway in the year to March 2023. In the same period, a further six people were killed at level crossings. Ten other people, including two rail workers, were killed in other rail-related incidents.
The new scheme will see schools offering a range of resources to promote rail safety education among primary and secondary school students. EMR is offering “a comprehensive three-tiered toolkit aimed at equipping schools with the resources they need to effectively promote rail safety in their communities.”
In the bronze tier, schools will receive Rail Safety Friendly (RSF) videos suitable for primary and secondary school students.
The silver tier includes interactive lessons featuring primary presentations, primary PE lessons, and secondary presentations. EMR activity books, railway safety pamphlets, and links to national resources will also be provided.
Schools taking part in the gold tier can collaborate with community rail partners and local station adopters to implement a longer-term scheme of work, including a curriculum-based program spanning six weeks, “Try the Train” familiarisation sessions, and artwork creation for the station.
“By providing schools with the tools and resources they need, we aim to foster a culture of safety and responsibility around rail travel among students”, EMR’s emergency planning manager, Lucy Gallacher, said. “Interested schools are invited to contact us today to learn more about how to participate.”
Schools can find more information online at eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/community-rail/rail-safety.
