15-21 June marked Rail Safety Week 2026, with events across the country focusing on rail safety for all and sharing ideas and best practice.
A key element of the week involves education and guided trips for young people, learning more about keeping safe on the railway and putting it into practice.
On Tuesday 16 June, Community Rail Officer Emily Oldfield met Community Rail Network’s Ian Davis (Community Rail Support Officer – England North) at Leeds Station, where they helped Network Rail staff in packing LNER tote bags which would be given to the young people involved in Rail Safety Week. The tote bags featured a range of resources on rail safety and looking after ourselves and others at stations, including from Community Rail Education Network and Samaritans.
This was part of Leeds Station Safety Week, a programme of activities hosted by Network Rail NE Route, involving 1300 pupils from 30 schools. It was a truly cross-industry event, with a number of Train Operating Companies present. Content for the young people included a special Northern train with on-board safety information, LNER’s Train Driver Simulator and CrossCountry focusing on On-Board Safety. TransPennine Express presented a number of fun activities, as well as Leeds Rhinos and the RNLI.
It was great to see all that was going on at the station, the above being just some examples. Young people putting their safety knowledge into practice was evident, and Emily enjoyed being part of such a thriving and positive day.
