Over 1,000 children learn vital skills as part of railway safety week at Leeds station

A record 1,030 Year 6 pupils are taking part in interactive railway safety sessions as part of Leeds Station Safety Week.

The flagship safety initiative - now in its 10th year - got under way at Leeds station yesterday (Monday, June 15) and runs to Friday, June 19 during Rail Safety Week (June 15-21).

Numbers are significantly higher than last year, when 888 children took part – and the event now welcomes schools from Barnsley, Selby and Harrogate as well as those based in Leeds and West Yorkshire.

The groups rotate through a range of engaging and interactive activities designed to bring safety lessons to life.

Inspector Richard Price, British Transport Police, said: “Leeds Station Safety Week is always a fantastic opportunity for us to engage with children and young people, and help them understand and respect the railways.

“Its importance can’t be understated as every year we see the serious consequences that can result from trespass, distraction or unsafe behaviour around trains and tracks.

“We help bring these important messages to life through interactive sessions, including demonstrations with our police dogs, which we hope will leave a lasting impression and empower pupils to make safe, informed choices. We look forward to working with our partners at Network Rail and other local organisations to make the day another successful event.”

The programme aims to tackle risky behaviour and improve awareness of the dangers of trespassing, distraction and misuse of the railway by giving young people the knowledge and confidence to make safe decisions.

Year 6 pupils have enjoyed exclusive access inside a real-life Northern train cab, offering a behind-the-scenes look at life as a train driver, plus got to have a shot on LNER’s driver simulator experience, demonstrating real-life decision-making in a train cab.

Other activities included CrossCountry’s fun challenge highlighting how passengers are kept safe during journeys, British Transport Police sessions, including demonstrations with police dogs, and awareness sessions from Railway Children, a charity working to protect and support young people on the railway.

“Reaching our 10th year of Leeds Station Safety Week is a fantastic milestone, and it’s inspiring to see more than 1,000 young people taking part this year,” Chloe Creffield, Network Rail community safety manager, said.

“By giving pupils the opportunity to experience the station railway in a safe, controlled environment, we’re helping them understand the real-life risks and equipping them with the knowledge they need to stay safe. The enthusiasm we’ve seen from students this week has been incredible, and we’re grateful to all our partners for their support.”

The school groups also took part in rail and water safety discussions ahead of the summer holidays - delivered by TransPennine Express, Leeds Rhinos and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Plus had the opportunity to speak with Transpennine Route Upgrade’s head of safety about how the programme is improving the railway between Manchester and York, while keeping customers, communities and staff safe.

Leeds Station Safety Week continues to play a vital role in promoting safe behaviours, while strengthening partnerships across the rail industry and local community organisations.