Record 1,030 Children Learn Railway Safety at Leeds Station Safety Week 2026 Leeds

Key Points

• A record 1,030 Year 6 pupils (ages 10–11) are participating in Leeds Station Safety Week 2026
• The event runs from Monday 15 June to Friday 19 June 2026, coinciding with national Rail Safety Week (15–21 June)
• This is the 10th year of the flagship safety initiative at Leeds Station
• Participation is significantly higher than last year’s 888 children in 2025
• Schools from Barnsley, Selby, and Harrogate are attending alongside West Yorkshire schools, marking expansion beyond the original region
• The event features five interactive safety stations including train simulators, driver’s cab access, and British Transport Police drone demonstrations
• 510 dangerous railway trespassing incidents involving young people occurred across Network Rail’s North & East route since April 2024, with Leeds accounting for nearly half (220 incidents or 43%)
• Partner organisations include Network Rail, Northern, CrossCountry, LNER, TransPennine Express, British Transport Police, Leeds United Foundation, and Leeds Rhinos

Leeds (The Leeds Times) June 16, 2026 –Leeds Station Safety Week has welcomed a record 1,030 Year 6 pupils to interactive railway safety sessions, marking the highest participation in the event’s 10-year history and highlighting urgent concerns about rising trespass incidents involving young people across West Yorkshire’s railway network.

The flagship safety initiative, which began yesterday (Monday 15 June) at Leeds City Station, runs through Friday 19 June during national Rail Safety Week (15–21 June), according to Network Rail’s official press release. The numbers represent a significant increase from last year’s 888 children, with the event now welcoming schools from Barnsley, Selby, and Harrogate as well as those based in West Yorkshire.

How Many Children Are Learning Railway Safety This Year Compared to Previous Years?

As reported by Chantele Hodson of Network Rail Media Centre, the 2026 event has attracted 19 schools participating in hands-on safety education at Leeds station.

This represents substantial growth from the 2023 event, which welcomed 600 primary school students from 15 schools across West Yorkshire.

The 2024 event saw a record-breaking 700 Year 6 students from 15 schools, including incident hotspot areas such as Leeds, Wakefield, and Bradford. Last year’s 2025 event hosted 888 children from 19 schools, marking the first expansion beyond West Yorkshire.

What Interactive Activities Are Students Experiencing at Leeds Station?

Students visit five interactive stations designed to deliver crucial safety messages, as detailed in Network Rail’s coverage. These include:

• Taking a ride in LNER’s train simulator to get a driver’s view of the railway
• Exploring a Northern train with access to the driver’s cab
• Learning vital rail safety with a joint demonstration from Network Rail and TransPennine Express
• CrossCountry colleagues leading a train manager activity where students learn what equipment is used to keep passengers safe on board
• British Transport Police delivering sessions warning of trespassing dangers with an informative drone demonstration, bringing a police dog for students to meet

As reported by Chantele Hodson of Network Rail Media Centre, the Leeds United Foundation runs sessions on the station’s north concourse with educational games linked to rail safety facts. Students also meet players from the club’s women’s and under-21’s team.

The event was supported by Leeds Rhinos, adding an exciting dimension to the safety education programme. Students will also have the chance to explore the Dark Arches underneath the station, as well as seeing how British Transport Police respond to trespass incidents using their drones and marked vehicles.

Why Is Railway Safety Education Becoming More Critical in West Yorkshire?

Alarming new data shows 510 dangerous railway trespassing incidents involving young people across Network Rail’s North & East route since April 2024, with Leeds accounting for nearly half of these, according to Network Rail’s official announcement. The Leeds area accounts for 220 or 43% of incidents involving young people.

The figures highlight a concerning pattern of risk-taking behaviour, with an average of more than one incident per day putting young lives in danger across the region’s railway network.

As reported by Chantele Hodson of Network Rail Media Centre, Chloe Creffield, community safety manager for Network Rail’s North and East route, said:

“Leeds Station Safety Week marks an incredible achievement for railway safety education in our region. Seeing nearly 900 Year 6 students actively engaging with these vital safety lessons and gaining more understanding of the risks of the railway is truly inspiring”.

Creffield added:

“By bringing the railway environment to life through these interactive sessions, we’re equipping young people with knowledge to make informed choices that keep them safe and potentially save lives”.

What Safety Messages Are Students Learning at the Event?

As reported by Chloe Creffield, Community Safety Manager for Network Rail’s North and East Route in the 2023 press release,

“Leeds Station Safety Week will teach vital rail safety messages to school children in West Yorkshire. They will learn all about the dangers present on the railway, what the laws are, and what the consequences could be”.

Students will learn how to safely navigate rail stations, including how to use the departure boards and escalators correctly. The activities focused on safety issues when using the station, being on a train, or near the railway.

Interactive sessions included information about preventing accidents by not running or riding bikes, scooters, or skateboards in the station, as well as how to stay safe when using escalators. Pupils were also taught how dangerous it is to trespass on the tracks, particularly in areas with overhead line equipment, which carries 25,000 volts and would have devastating and life-changing consequences for anyone coming into contact with it.

The children also learnt about the impact unsafe behaviour near the railway could have on train drivers.

Which organisations are partnering to deliver Leeds Station Safety Week?

Train operators Northern, CrossCountry, LNER and TPE, alongside the British Transport Police, Railway Children and Leeds United FC, are all working with Network Rail to deliver workshops and activities.

As reported by a spokesperson on behalf of LNER, Northern, CrossCountry and TransPennine Express:

“We’re proud to collaborate on this essential initiative to raise awareness on the potential dangers of the railway. The enthusiasm shown by the students and their willingness to learn about railway safety gives us confidence that these important messages will stay with them for years to come”.

A British Transport Police spokesperson said:

“Unfortunately, we have seen too many times the tragic and life-changing consequences of young people going trackside. Sadly, some children think the rail tracks look like tempting places to play and don’t consider just how dangerous the tracks can be. Working with our partners is essential in ensuring the education of trackside dangers are shared. We hope these sessions will create conversations with the students at home, school and among peer groups”.

The Leeds United Foundation once again played its part in Leeds Station Safety Week, supporting Network Rail as they encouraged schoolchildren to stay safe on the railway at Leeds City Station. Network Rail worked alongside train operators LNER, Northern, CrossCountry, and TransPennine Express, whilst also working with the British Transport Police (BTP) and the club’s official charity.

Background: The Development and Expansion of Leeds Station Safety Week

Leeds Station Safety Week began in 2016, now marking its 10th year as a flagship safety initiative operated by Network Rail in partnership with rail industry stakeholders. The event originally served schools exclusively from West Yorkshire, including Leeds, Bradford, and Wakefield.

In 2025, the safety week expanded beyond West Yorkshire for the first time, welcoming schools from Barnsley, Selby, and Harrogate. This expansion reflected the growing regional importance of railway safety education as trespass incidents increased across the North & East route.

The 2023 event hosted 600 primary school students from 15 schools. The 2024 event saw 700 Year 6 students from 15 schools in incident hotspot areas.

The 2025 event attracted 888 children from 19 schools. The 2026 event has reached 1,030 Year 6 pupils, the highest participation in the programme’s history.

Train operator involvement has grown consistently, with Northern, CrossCountry, LNER, and TransPennine Express all providing interactive activities.

The Leeds United Foundation has participated annually since at least 2023, running educational games on the station’s north concourse. Leeds Rhinos added support in 2025, expanding the sports partnership element.

British Transport Police have been integral partners throughout, delivering trespass danger sessions with drone demonstrations and police dog encounters. The event now features five dedicated interactive stations, compared to fewer activities in earlier years.

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Prediction: How This Development Can Affect West Yorkshire Schoolchildren and Families

The record participation in Leeds Station Safety Week 2026 suggests railway safety education will reach more young people across West Yorkshire and surrounding areas, potentially reducing trespass incidents among Year 6 pupils. As reported by Chloe Creffield of Network Rail, the interactive sessions equip young people with knowledge to make informed choices that keep them safe and potentially save lives.

For schoolchildren attending the event, the five interactive stations provide hands-on experience with railway environments they might otherwise encounter without understanding dangers.

The train simulator, driver’s cab access, and British Transport Police drone demonstrations create memorable learning experiences that research suggests improve retention of safety messages compared to traditional classroom instruction.

The expansion to include schools from Barnsley, Selby, and Harrogate means young people across a wider geographic area will receive safety education, addressing the regional nature of trespass incidents where Leeds accounts for 43% of young person incidents across the North & East route. This geographic expansion could reduce trespass incidents in previously underserved areas.

For families in West Yorkshire, the British Transport Police spokesperson’s comment that sessions will

“create conversations with the students at home, school and among peer groups”

suggests parents may engage more actively in railway safety discussions following their children’s participation. Given that 510 trespass incidents involving young people occurred since April 2024, with an average of more than one incident per day, increased family awareness could contribute to reducing these dangerous behaviours.

The involvement of Leeds United Foundation and Leeds Rhinos provides sports connectivity that may resonate with young people who follow these teams, potentially increasing engagement with safety messages through familiar local figures.

This approach addresses research showing youth trespass is more prevalent in areas with socio-economic deprivation, where sports clubs often serve as community anchors.

As trespass incidents increase by 25% during April and 40% among children under 18, with nearly two-thirds occurring during summer months (April through October), the timing of Leeds Station Safety Week during Rail Safety Week (mid-June) positions it strategically before peak trespass seasons.

This timing could help prevent summer trespass incidents among participating Year 6 pupils who will have completed primary school and transitioned to secondary education by summer 2026.

The record participation also signals growing institutional commitment to railway safety education, suggesting future events may maintain or exceed 1,000 participants. This sustained focus could contribute to long-term reduction in the 220 Leeds-area incidents involving young people, representing potential progress toward Network Rail’s safety objectives across the North & East route.