Light rail body seeks tram safety improvement

The Light Rail Safety and Standards Board (LRSSB) has launched a national campaign aiming to enhance pedestrian safety around UK tramways.

Tram operators in Edinburgh and Blackpool have already signed up to the campaign, which promotes the adoption of measures making pedestrians more aware of their surroundings when close to a tramway.

The Board has developed improved signage and is using geolocation technology to alert people to their proximity to the tracks.

LRSSB Chief Executive Carl Williams explained: “Our own studies have shown that pedestrians are often distracted by their mobile phones, or simply oblivious to their surroundings, and fail to show the same care that they would when crossing a busy road.

“Over-familiarity can also be a factor in many accidents, with people who use trams on a regular basis ignoring warnings they see every day.

“In response, we’re developing more eye-catching signage and other measures that networks can use to catch the attention of unwary pedestrians.”

The campaign launched as part of Rail Safety Week 2024 on June 24-30, with hundreds of events, talks and awareness campaigns taking place across the country.

Also during the week, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) announced a £2.5 million investment to combat abuse and disorder on its network through a new Antisocial Behaviour Improvement Plan.

GTR will double the number of Travel Safe Officers working alongside the British Transport Police, as well as equipping staff with 1,500 body-worn video cameras. It has also begun enhanced training and aftercare for staff.

Samantha Facey, Health, Safety and Security Director at GTR, said: “The rise in antisocial behaviour is being felt across industries and communities nationwide.

“While we cannot solve the problem on our own, we hope that with increased tools and resources, as well as closer working with other industry partners, we can begin to turn the dial on this kind of behaviour.”

Organised by Rail Forum, the week began with the Rail Safety Week Conference in Manchester on June 24.

It included talks from the Community Rail Network’s Karen Bennett, Network Rail chief Health and Safety Officer Rupert Lown, and Jen Ablitt, deputy director of safety strategy at the Office of Rail and Road. This year’s key discussion point was how the sector continues to improve health and safety.

Education and awareness continue to play a big part for Rail Safety Week.

In England’s North East, dozens of County Durham schoolchildren received a unique introduction to train travel thanks to a collaborative rail safety event.

Staff from Northern, CrossCountry, and LNER shared their experiences working on trains, giving the children insights into how the network operates. The event was organised by the Bishop Line Community Rail Partnership.

In Northumberland, ahead of the new Northumberland Line launch this summer, staff from Northumberland County Council, Northern, Network Rail, Nexus and Morgan Sindall spoke to more than 12,500 students about rail safety.