Press release -
GTR launches Passenger Security Awareness campaign
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has today launched a programme of security awareness events for passengers. At a display stand on Blackfriars station’s north concourse this morning, the rail company’s Crime & Security team reminded passing passengers of the need for vigilance while they travel, and how to recognise and report anything suspicious. The team moves on to Brighton tomorrow (31 January from 7.00 to 9.00am) and then across the GTR network for 22 more events during 2018.
GTR Chief Executive Charles Horton, who attended the campaign’s launch event, said: “Passenger safety is our number one priority. We want people to feel safe, and be safe, when they travel with us. We also want them to know what to do if something doesn’t seem right. This campaign aims to get important messages about safety and security across, in a memorable way, to as many people as possible.”
Along with the well-known 'See, it, say it, sorted' catch-phrase about suspicious objects or behaviour, the campaign includes messages about crime on the railway such as pick-pocketing, criminal damage, cycle theft and staff assaults.
The team are taking their display around the biggest and busiest stations on the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern networks on a continuous rolling programme of at least 24 station visits every year. Gatwick Airport and Finsbury Park follow in February, with East Croydon and St Albans in March.
Tony Holland, GTR’s Crime & Security Manager, said: “The more people we can encourage to think about their personal safety and security, the better, so we’re looking to arrange even more visits than the 24 planned so far. We’ll be asking passengers who can spare the time to take part in a short survey that will help them stay alert and help us measure how well our campaign is working.”
The team of safety and security managers and Rail Enforcement Officers are also handing out useful free security items such as personal attack alarms, cycle seat covers with anti-theft warning messages, and anti-theft bells to attach to bags.
ends
GTR passenger Security Awareness events in 2018
| Station | Month | Date | Time - From/To |
| Blackfriars | Jan | 30/01/2018 | 0800 - 1000 |
| Brighton | Jan | 31/01/2018 | 0700 - 0900 |
| Gatwick Airport | Feb | 14/02/2018 | 1700 - 1900 |
| Finsbury Park | Feb | 27/02/2018 | 0800 - 1000 |
| East Croydon | Mar | 14/03/2018 | 0700 - 0900 |
| St Albans | Mar | 16/03/2018 | 1600 - 1900 |
| Luton Airport Parkway | April | 23/04/2018 | 0700 - 0900 |
| Peckham Rye | April | 25/04/2018 | 0800 -1000 |
| Luton | May | 23/05/2018 | 0700 - 0900 |
| Balham | May | 08/05/2018 | 1700 - 1900 |
| City Thameslink | June | 07/06/2018 | 0700 - 0900 |
| Brighton | June | 21/06/2018 | 1700 - 1900 |
| Bedford | July | 10/07/2018 | 1700 - 2000 |
| East Croydon | July | 04/07/2018 | 1700 - 1900 |
| Finsbury Park | Aug | 30/08/2018 | 1600 - 1900 |
| Gatwick Airport | Aug | 23/08/2018 | 0800 -1000 |
| King’s Cross | Sept | 26/09/2018 | 0700 - 0900 |
| Blackfriars | Sept | 07/09/2018 | 1600 - 1900 |
| London Bridge | Oct | 17/10/2018 | 1700 -1900 |
| St Albans | Oct | 08/10/2018 | 0700 - 0900 |
| Luton Airport Parkway | Nov | 22/11/2018 | 1700 - 2000 |
| Blackfriars | Nov | 14/11/2018 | 0700 - 0900 |
| St Pancras | Dec | 10/12/2018 | 0700 - 0900 |
| Victoria | Dec | 19/12/2018 | 0730 - 0930 |
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For more information email press.office@gtrailway.com or call
Thameslink and Great Northern press office: 0203 750 2031
Govia Thameslink Railway
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) operates Thameslink, Great Northern, Southern and Gatwick Express services as follows:
- Thameslink – services between Bedford and Brighton, Luton/St Albans and Sutton, Wimbledon and Sevenoaks
- Great Northern – services between London and Welwyn, Hertford, Peterborough, Cambridge and King’s Lynn
- Southern – services between London and the Sussex coast (Brighton, Worthing, Eastbourne, Bognor Regis, Hastings) and parts of Surrey, Kent and Hampshire (Ashford International, Southampton, Portsmouth)
- Gatwick Express – fast, non-stop direct services between Gatwick Airport and London Victoria
GTR is the largest rail franchise in the UK in terms of passenger numbers, trains, revenue and staff. The operator carries about 326 million passenger journeys per year, and employs around 6,500 people. Its aim is to improve services across all four networks.
Southern has the fastest passenger growth in the UK with numbers into London having doubled in 12 years - compared with the industry as a whole doubling over the past 20 years. Passenger numbers on GTR's other routes have also seen huge growth - at King's Cross they have increased among all operators combined by 70% in 14 years.
GTR has introduced more new trains in the past year than all other franchises put together, with 500 new carriages so far.
GTR's transformative RailPlan 20/20 modernisation programme incorporates the £7bn Thameslink Programme which will bring hundreds more daily services, increasing the number of trains though the central London core from up to 15 to 24 trains per hour. Network Rail has also launched a £300m programme to improve resilience across the GTR network.
Under RailPlan 20/20, GTR is modernising how it works, with new technology in use at our stations and on our trains, smartcard ticketing and a new, flexible on-board role on many Southern services. This ensures fewer cancellations, and with more staff on board our trains now than ever before, passengers are enjoying a much better level of on-board customer service.
The GTR investment programme for stations includes funding for more CCTV, toilet refurbishments, new retail facilities, help points and car park improvements – as well as plans for increased motorcycle storage and improved transport integration.
www.southernrailway.com, www.gatwickexpress.com, www.thameslinkrailway.com,www.greatnorthernrail.com
