New initiative reinforces joint effort to tackle trespassing
There were 772 child-related trespass events reported from periods one to nine in FY22/23, according to the latest Trespass risk safety performance overview published by RSSB. Numbers are high. What’s worse, they have been for a while. The report also shows that, of all trespass events, the proportion of child trespass has remained consistent. It’s currently at 31.7%.
In recent years, the rail industry has stepped up its efforts to stop young people trespassing on the railway. Take for instance the You vs. Train campaign which was launched by industry, Network Rail and the British Transport Police (BTP) in 2018 to get rail safety messages across to children and young people.
By working with Learn Live, an innovative, interactive online channel that communicates directly into classrooms, the team has been able to extend the reach of You vs. Train. Since the launch of an education development plan in 2019, designed to target hotspot locations, the campaign has reached more than 17 million young people in 10,500 schools across the UK with rail safety material delivered digitally into classrooms and assembly halls.
‘We’re pleased we’ve had this opportunity to work with industry and support the development of the rail safety material used by Learn Live,’ says Gemma Lavery, Professional Head of Public Safety at RSSB. ‘By bringing together Learn Live’s virtual learning environment, our insight on rail safety and trespass, funding from Network Rail and support from the Trespass Risk Group, we have been able to get life-saving messages in front of the people who need to see them.’
But it’s not only the worryingly high child-related trespass events spurring on industry to do more to deter trespassing. In 2017, 11-year-old Harrison Ballantyne tragically passed away after he was electrocuted by overhead power cables while trying to retrieve a football from Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal. Keen to prevent more deaths, a short film called Harrison’s Story was produced as part of the You vs. Train campaign to warn youngsters of the dangers of trespassing.
A significant amount of awareness has been raised through Harrison’s Story. Last year, Colas Rail supported the launch of the film at Guilsborough Academy in Northamptonshire, where Harrison went to school. On the day, 100,000 young people watched it. More people have seen it since, as the film has gathered momentum not only in schools but in the rail industry too.
It’s also inspired Learn Live and others to consider what more can be done to reduce the likelihood of future trespassing. So Learn Live, BTP, Network Rail and rail organisations, with our support, are behind a drive that builds on the excellent work of the You vs. Train campaign. Launched on Friday, 31 March, the Rail Safe Friendly Initiative provides schools and the rail industry with an opportunity to work together towards a common goal to improve rail safety in all UK schools. You can find out more and lend your support by contacting the Learn Live team.
Gemma, who has been asked to sit on the steering group for the initiative, says, ‘We support Network Rail, BTP and the wider rail industry in creating safer and more secure railway environments. This new initiative is an innovative way to help spread awareness about the dangers of trespassing on the railway network and continues to build on the great work undertaken so far. It’s a real privilege for us to be involved, and we believe that together, through collective action and education, we can ensure that our railways remain safe environments for all.’
Gemma adds, ‘We’re also thrilled that the initiative allows us to raise awareness of the Rail Social Value Tool. The web-based tool enables the industry to monitor and measure the social, economic and environmental value of its projects and day-to-day operations. We want to ensure rail brings the biggest benefits to people and places.’
