06.06.17
TOC marks anniversary of railway safety education programme
Learning to travel independently on the railway and how to be safe around trains is an essential life lesson for any young person.
And today, one operator has announced that its programme aimed at teaching children about the railway has reached thousands of young travellers over the past year.
Working with Sussex Community Rail Partnership (SCRP), Southern’s Go-Learn railway education programme has reached out to almost 5,500 youngsters to teach them about safety whilst travelling on trains.
The programme includes sessions with Rail Enforcement Officers (REOs) from Southern who talk to the children about important principles for safety at stations such as being aware of the dangers of fast approaching trains, and the serious risk of trespassing on railway lines.
Staff have also visited local youth groups to directly engage with young people, and SCRP’s education officer Angie Lowen has also conducted visits to schools as part of the scheme, taking lessons on journey planning and personal safety.
“The whole Go-Learn programme is considered by the teachers to be a very valuable way of teaching important life skills to Year 6 children,” Lowen said. “The children all enjoy it, many of them engaged in a way that doesn’t always happen in other areas of the curriculum. It is a very rewarding job that I do, and I really enjoy it.”
Southern’s head of safety and environment, Colin Morris, said: “Go-Learn is aimed at helping youngsters to think more about using trains as a sustainable form of transport, whilst ensuring they act in a way which keeps them and others safe.
“It is truly wonderful to see the impressive results and high numbers we are getting this safety message to. I am really proud of the efforts of our REOs and Angie. It’s great to see more staff getting involved to deliver this important message.”
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