180 schoolchildren learn important lessons about rail safety during event in the North East

Around 180 primary school pupils attended the event at the Locomotion railway museum in Shildon earlier this month. 

A range of staff, including drivers and conductors from Northern, CrossCountry and London North Eastern Railway (LNER), shared their experiences of working on the railway and taught the Year 6 pupils how to stay safe when travelling on the train and plan their journeys.

Working with colleagues from Network Rail, they also warned the children about the dangers of trespassing during the event, which was organised by Bishop Line Community Rail Partnership.

The schoolchildren then met British Transport Police officers, who showed them the tools and equipment they use to protect people on the rail network, and community rail representatives.

Jason Wade, regional director for Northern, said: “It’s fantastic to see colleagues across the rail industry come together and give theses pupils the confidence to travel by train in the future. 

“We also welcome any opportunity to teach children important lessons about staying safe on the railways and show them how our staff work to run services for people across the North.”

The event was attended by pupils from Etherley Lane Primary School in Bishop Auckland, Northwood Primary School in Darlington and St George’s CE Academy in Middleton St George, who all travelled there on a Northern train.

Pupils from from nearby St John’s CE (Aided) Primary School also took part, after enjoying a short walk to the venue.

The rail safety sessions were delivered by Northern, CrossCountry, Network Rail, Railway Children and British Transport Police during the event, which was supported by Community Rail Network, TransPennine Express, Locomotion, Shildon Station Adopters, Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership and Weardale Railway.

The first event was held in 2023 to warn children at schools in Darlington and North Road about the dangers of trespassing, following a number of incidents in the local area.

Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with 2,500 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England.