News

Off the Rails

15 Nov 2011

‘Off the Rails’ is a joint project between the Pompey Study Centre and South West Trains. The free one-off sessions are designed to make children in Portsmouth aware of some of the major issues relating to train travel, which include treating staff and fellow passengers with respect, preventing vandalism and staying safe.
The project was recently launched in schools across the city and provides Year 6 pupils with an intensive one – hour lesson which utilises a number of different techniques to explore these important issues. The children are given the opportunity to speak to South West Trains employees who share their experiences of working on the railway network and some of the issues that they face on a day- to- day basis. The pupils take part in role play activities, acting out some train scenarios and put their problem solving skills to the test by trying to find the solution to a mock major train incident in a Train Scene Investigation exercise.
Stephen Henderson, Joel Ward and Linvoy Primus recently donned rail workers’ uniforms to support the project. The players were photographed in a number of scenarios to highlight the dangers of the railway.
Henderson said ‘It’s so important to be safe when you’re at stations. It’s so easy to drift over the yellow lines towards the track, so you’ve just got to know what’s going on around you.’

Ward agreed, and added: ‘I think it’s important to make people aware that stations aren’t playgrounds and that they are dangerous places where bad things can happen. I think we’re lucky enough to be in a position where we can help people, and part of that is being able to create awareness of various subjects like this. It’s such a simple message really because by just paying a bit more attention lives can be saved.’

Aaron Marshall, Rail Community Officer Team Leader, was impressed by the players’ enthusiasm. He said: ‘Sometimes in our role we see the worst side of the railway and the results of people not taking on board the issues we are addressing. If this campaign can make one person stop and think about their behaviour and potentially save a life then we really can never put a value on that. The players really are a credit to Portsmouth FC.’

The project, which was developed by Adam Lea, Education Manager at the Pompey Study Centre said ‘I think that this initiative really enlightens children about the potential dangers of the railway. Dangers that sometimes may be forgotten or even dangers that are not obvious. With the help of South West Trains, these classroom sessions offer an even greater dimension to learning and understanding the railway system. It’s great that we can work together on delivering this message. It will ensure that children in the area are safe when using trains and the railway system, but also fans travelling on the trains to and from home and away matches are safe, too.’
As a result of these classroom sessions, participating children will have the opportunity to enter a railway themed poster competition. The winning posters will be printed and displayed in schools and South West Trains stations in the city. The winners will receive tickets to a Pompey match and drive a train simulator.