The Rail Safe Friendly programme is dedicated to spreading the vital message of rail safety among young individuals, educators, and parents throughout schools in the UK through the innovative Learn Live news channel.
Their mission is rooted in the belief that every child should be equipped with the essential knowledge to navigate the railway environment safely.
An extract from their website describing how the Rail Safe Friendly Program was created:
“Our journey into rail safety messaging began working with Network Rail through our Learn Live channel. The primary aim was to raise awareness about the hazards associated with railways, particularly the issue of trespassing. Schools located near railway lines that had experienced a significant number of trespassing incidents were targeted, hoping to educate students about the potential dangers they faced in these areas.
The tragic story of 11-year-old Harrison Ballantyne profoundly impacted our perspective on rail safety. Harrison lost his life after being electrocuted by overhead power lines while attempting to retrieve a football in a rail freight depot. This heart breaking incident, which involved a staggering 25,000 volts, rendered his friends and paramedics unable to assist him, leading to his untimely death at the scene. It occurred in a seemingly safe suburban area, where the risks associated with overhead electricity were not fully understood, highlighting the urgent need for better awareness.
In response to this tragedy, Harrison’s mother, Liz Ballantyne, delivered a poignant message:
“Every child deserves the knowledge to be safe.”
Inspired by her words, we took significant steps in 2023 to launch the Rail Safe Friendly programme, which builds upon our work with Network Rail. Our goal is to extend the reach of this campaign to an even broader audience of young people. The programme is designed to provide children with crucial rail safety education, helping them recognise potential hazards in their surroundings and empowering them to make choices that could ultimately protect their lives.
The success of the Rail Safe Friendly Programme hinges on the collaboration and support of the rail industry. We are actively seeking partnerships with rail companies willing to contribute financially at various levels. This support is vital for us to expand our outreach to more schools, allowing us to fulfill our ambitious vision of enrolling every school on the Rail Safe Friendly Programme by the year 2027.
By fostering these partnerships, we aim to create a comprehensive network of safety education that not only informs children but also engages communities in the importance of rail safety. Together, we can cultivate a culture of awareness and responsibility among young people, ensuring they are well-equipped to navigate their environments safely. The Rail Safe Friendly programme represents a significant step forward in our commitment to safeguarding the next generation.”
Poacher Line joined with the Rail Safe Friendly Program in January 2024 sponsoring 20 schools across the Poacher Line. The collaboration was funded by East Midlands Railway and Cross Country Trains to enable us to support the 20 chosen schools to engage within the program and to learn more about Rail Safety.
Within our first year of the program all 20 schools engaged at a bronze level with one school exceeding to Gold level. We took part in an interview were we spoke about the benefits of this program and what effects and social benefits it has aswell as the social value to our communities. Within this year we reached 11,380 individuals and the effects it has on our next generation of rail users is invaluable.
To read about the successes of the Rail Safe Friendly program please visit The Rail Safe Friendly Programme – Rail Safe Friendly.
Funded by East Midlands Railway and Cross Country Trains