Hull schoolgirl designs railway safety poster with important message

A Hull schoolgirl has crafted a winning railway safety poster with the crucial message to "stay on the right track" and avoid trespassing on railway lines.

Paula, an 11 year old student from Adelaide Primary School, won in a competition organised by TransPennine Express (TPE) as part of their ongoing collaboration with the school.

The students were tasked with designing a poster to emphasise the importance of maintaining safety while using the rail network. Trespassing is a significant issue on railways, with approximately 19,000 incidents reported annually - nearly one for every mile of track in the country.

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The contest was held in conjunction with Rail Safety Week, which spans from Monday 24 June to Sunday 30 June 2024. Led by the Rail Forum, the week is dedicated to promoting safety across all aspects of rail travel.

Paula's winning design will be showcased across TPE's 19 stations, and she received a Kindle Fire tablet as her prize.

Steve O'Callaghan, British Transport Police Liaison Officer at TransPennine Express, expressed his admiration for the pupils' creativity: "It was amazing to see all the innovative and creative work from the pupils at Adelaide Primary School. The standard was so high that it made it really hard to select the winner. Well done to Paula, her poster will be displayed in poster cases and on station screens across our network, reminding people to stay safe and away from train tracks."

For the second consecutive year, TPE has been awarded the Safeguarding on Rail Scheme accreditation. The recognition from BTP and the Department for Transport highlights the extensive efforts being made across TPE to ensure railway safety for all.

Paula's Year 6 teacher Rachael Turvey commented: "This was a really positive activity which opened up conversations about how to stay safe around the railway, and what they can do to keep others safe."