West Midlands Railway boosts rail safety awareness for thousands of passengers

West Midlands Railway (WMR) has raised awareness of how to stay safe on the railway among thousands of passengers this Rail Safety Week (16 – 22 June).

The rail operator hosted pop-up sessions at Birmingham Snow Hill and Wolverhampton station this week, where experts spoke about safeguarding, mental health and how to prevent accidents on the railway. British Transport Police (BTP) appeared alongside WMR to answer any questions from rail users.

Throughout the week, WMR talked to passengers about misogynistic behaviour on public transport. Inspired by the company’s partnership with leading UK charity, White Ribbon, passers by were encouraged to spin an interactive wheel, featuring conversation starters designed to get people talking about how to prevent violence towards women and girls.

To ensure wellbeing was at the top of the agenda this week, WMR also shared its top tips for keeping safe with hundreds of schools. Thousands of students were reminded of the importance of staying alert while travelling by train, with warnings to always stand behind the yellow line and never touch a moving train.

Jonathan Hitching, head of safety at WMR, said: “Keeping safety front of mind while travelling by train is vital. Sadly, fatalities on the railway still happen every year, which is why this week is so important to ensure our passengers know how they can keep themselves safe. From how to navigate level crossings to staying alert on platforms, we’ve spoken to hundreds of passengers about all areas of rail safety this week and want to thank everyone who spoke with us.”

A spokesperson for BTP said: "The public’s safety is our number one priority, and we work tirelessly to protect everyone’s journeys on the railway network. We are aware that every offence is one too many and we work relentlessly with the rail industry to educate and tackle these incidents.

“We have officers across the rail network around the clock, at stations and on trains, to detect and deter crime and to reassure the public. Please save our text number to your phones if you need us 61016, or call 0800 40 50 40. In an emergency, always dial 999."

To find out more about how to stay safe on the railway, visit www.wmr.uk/travelsafe.