Rail Safety can never start too young

28/08/2023

For Rail Safety Week 2023, Downer’s Rail & Transit Systems teams visited schools across Australia to talk about the importance of rail safety.

Starting in the Sunshine State, our Queensland team visited the Tobanlea State School to help educate the kids on how to stay safe on and around the trains.

The kids, aged from 4 to 12, heard about how to stand behind the yellow line, to always look both ways, to not run on the platform and to not cross the track when the flights are flashing.

Paul Fearn, Safety Manager – Queensland, lead the session on the day and knew how important the messages being presented were.

“Being safe in and around trains is so important for passengers”, he said. “For us adults, we generally use the trains safely, but for little kids who might be distracted or not use public transport frequently they may not realise how to use the trains safely. 

“By coming out to Torbanlea State School and sharing with the students some of the key messages on how to use a train safely, we’re hoping to build that safety message from a young age.”

The kids also practiced in the Steely Stan Stare before completing a colouring in competition and winning some prizes. 

A little further south in North Ryde, Nick Mountford, our Head of Health, Safety, Environment and Quality visited his son’s school to talk about rail safety with an even younger audience.

Covering some of the same information, such as look both ways and stand behind the yellow line, Nick also reminded the kids to always hold Mummy or Daddy’s hand.

“Being that the kids are so young, holding an adults’ hand near a train is a good first start for a safety message,” he said. 

“Since these are pre-schoolers, they do have a shorter attention span, but I bought my son’s train set with me, and all the kids loved that. 

“I asked them who had been on a train before, and all the hands shot up. 

“I know when my son came home that night it was all he could talk about, and I hope some of the other kids did the same so that safety message sunk in.” 

Downer is proud to play its part in ensuring safe rail travel for all passengers. 

Rail Safety Week is an annual community awareness week held in Australia and New Zealand designed to engage the community in safe rail practices. Now in its 18th year, the week was held Monday 7 August until Sunday 13 August 2023.