Campaign warning of railway risks created by Brighton agency

A Brighton communications company has created a campaign warning teenagers of the risks around railway lines.
A shot from the You Vs Train film with younsters by the railway lineA shot from the You Vs Train film with younsters by the railway line
A shot from the You Vs Train film with younsters by the railway line

The life-saving campaign by Pegasus launched this week, and revealed that one teenager risks their life on railway tracks every four hours.

It was created in partnership with Network Rail and British Transport Police.

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Chris Webb, director at Pegasus, said: “We’re very proud of our work to create the ‘You vs. Train’ campaign for Network Rail and the British Transport Police to raise awareness of this important issue.

“We’re focusing on targeting boys aged 11-18 years old through a mixture of channels, including Instagram, Snapchat and even cinema advertising.

“The number of trespass incidents on the railway network is a growing problem but by raising awareness of the hidden dangers and the life-changing implications that ignoring warning signs and going on the railway can have, on not only the individual involved but also their friends and family, we’re hopeful the campaign will help save lives.”

Network Rail said figures show more than a quarter of teenagers (27 per cent) confess to behaving in a way that could endanger their life on the railway.

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One in 10 teenagers admitted to walking along the railway line – more than two fifths of those (42 per cent) in the last year.

A warning sign by the railwayA warning sign by the railway
A warning sign by the railway

The number of young people taking risks on the railway track has gone up by almost 80 per cent in the last five years, Network Rail said, and in the last 12 months alone, seven young people under the age of 18 have lost their lives.

A further 48 people have received life changing injuries.

As a result the rail industry and the British Transport Police have launched a new campaign – called ‘You Vs Train’ – which targets teenagers to make them face the serious and devastating consequences for them and their loved ones when they make the potentially life-changing decision to ignore warnings and go onto the railway, with its obvious and hidden dangers.

At the heart of the You Vs Train campaign is the story of Tom Hubbard – a young boy who suffered life-changing injuries in 2014 when he was electrocuted by the overhead power cables.

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Tom suffered third degree burns across 57 per cent of his body and he has been left to deal with the serious physical and psychological consequences ever since.

He said: “I woke up 11 days later in the burns unit at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital wrapped from head to toe in bandages, heavily medicated and unable to string a sentence together. I don’t think I knew what was real and what wasn’t. When the doctors and my mum came to speak to me a few days later, the enormity of what had happened finally hit me. They explained how lucky I was to be alive, but it was going to be a long road to recovery.

“Four years on I’m still affected by the events of that day and every time I look in the mirror I’m reminded by that one decision to go on the railway. The accident has made me more of an introvert and cautious of trying new things, often opting to stay in during the day to avoid people and wear hoodies and long-sleeved tops to hide my scars, even on hot days.”

A short film reenacting Tom’s story was launched across social media this week.

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Tom’s family will also feature in the campaign to show how Tom’s accident has impacted them.

BTP Assistant Chief Constable Robin Smith said: “We hope that by sharing Tom’s story, young people who might have previously considered trespassing on the railways will think twice.

“We want his story to be heard – the tracks are not a playground. They’re incredibly dangerous and, as Tom’s story shows, can easily result in serious injury or worse.

“We hope the campaign will help young people to understand the risks, and help them to make the right decision and stay away from railway lines. Equally, it will also help them understand that bad decisions don’t just affect them, but they will have a deep and lasting impact on their families and friends as well. This campaign is not just for our young people but also their friends and family.”

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Allan Spence, head of public and passenger safety at Network Rail, said: “Hundreds of people each year unintentionally take on the railway and lose. This year we have already seen a record number of young people losing their life or being injured on the track.

“The railway is full of both obvious and hidden dangers. The electricity on the railway is always on and always dangerous. Trains can also travel up to 125 miles per hour, so even if a driver can see your child, they can’t stop in time and they can’t change direction. Parents - please help us keep your children safe by educating them about what they take on when they step on the track.”

To watch Tom’s video and find out how to keep your children safe on the railway this summer, visit: www.YouVsTrain.co.uk