HS1 sponsors Rail Safe Friendly to promote child safety on lines

HS1 sponsors Rail Safe Friendly to promote child safety on lines  

HS1 Ltd, the UK’s only high-speed railway, is announcing its collaboration with the Rail Safe Friendly programme, which seeks to educate children and young people about the many dangers present on the railway.  

Nearly half of the UK’s rail network is electrified, and more than 30 percent uses a third rail to power the train which has 750 volts running through it. This is enough to kill or seriously injure someone stepping on the line. 

Rail Safe Friendly’s programme has already reached more than 21 million young people and will now be able to expand their reach with the help of industry partners. HS1’s membership will help Rail Safe Friendly educate children in 90 schools along the high-speed route.  

Already, over 4,000 UK schools are on board with the Rail Safe Friendly programme and more than 80 industry partners from across the rail sector have sponsored and become partners in it. 

Chloé Barton, Senior Legal Advisor at HS1, said: “The railways are an integral part of the fabric of this country, but if misused, they can be incredibly dangerous. HS1’s new partnership with Rail Safe Friendly works towards the shared goal of ensuring that young people in the communities we serve have access to the information they need to stay safe. 

“We are excited by the opportunity to promote the development of good judgement and decision making on journeys, in line with our 2024 Social Value Framework which forefronts local community engagement and aims to maximise net social value.” 

HS1 has become a silver member which means a Rail Safe Friendly programme sponsorship for 90 schools across the high speed route.