Preston kids get behind the scenes look at station

Pupils from St Stephen’s Church of England Primary School visited Preston station recently as guests of Northern and Community Rail Lancashire, and were given the chance to look behind the scenes of one of the busiest stations in the region.

The children learned about the different features of the station and were educated about the potential dangers and how to stay safe when on the railway.

They were also treated to a special tour of the station by British Transport Police who taught them how to buy tickets, how to access timetables and the consequences of not taking rail safety seriously.

Matthew Worman, stakeholder manager at Northern said: “The visit was arranged to coincide with Rail Safety Week and it’s great for us to be able to engage with the local community.

“It’s vital that children learn how to use stations and how to behave on the railway, and we are grateful for the effort that Community Rail Lancashire and BTP put into the day to make it exciting and interesting for all.”

Rachel Devitt, a teacher at St Stephen’s school, said: “Our children had a great time at the station. As we live so close, it is important that the children know and understand the importance of being safe around the railway tracks. The information from BTP and station staff was very useful and the children certainly learnt a lot.”

Inspector Neil Hubbs from British Transport Police said, “The visit was a great opportunity for the children to get out of the classroom and learn all about the railway and how to stay safe.  We were able to demonstrate first hand the dangers and reality of using the railway as a playground, as well as maybe inspiring a few new officers to join the force in the future!”