On Thursday 3 February, children from Crossdale School, in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire, received presentations from GB Railfreight’s (GBRf) safety team about the dangers of the railway.

Rod Storer, Depot Safety Manager, and Chris Parsons, SHEQ Manager, from Rail Innovation and Development Centre (RIDC) Melton, based in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, led a series of presentations adapted to suit the school’s Key Stage 1 and 2 students. As part of an initiative to educate local communities about its operation at RIDC Melton, the sessions were based on the dedicated train testing facility, and its electrified high and low speed test tracks. GBRf has already delivered safety talks to Asfordby Hill School, in Leicestershire, and plans to visit more schools in the East Midlands area. Rod Storer, Depot Safety Manager, GB Railfreight, said:

“RIDC Melton can be extremely dangerous if people do not understand the risks associated with an electrified test track. We are committed to educating communities local to our operation, especially children, to ensure they are aware of the dangers that exist. “We hope the children of Crossdale school not only found the sessions engaging and informative, but have taken on the serious message that the railway is not a playground and ignoring important rules can result in life-changing consequences.”