050616
Summer safety top priority for Translink
June 2005
With the school summer holidays just around the corner Translink has called for safety to be made a top priority among parents and young people.
Translink’s Safety, Quality and Environmental Manager, Ian Morrow explained,
“Safety is an ongoing priority for Translink but with lighter evenings and a heat wave predicted this summer, many children want to play outside. While Translink does not wish to discourage physical activity among young people, we are calling for them to stay away from railway lines and play safely elsewhere.
“As part of our commitment to public safety, we have also recently appealed to Principals and teachers to help us reinforce the dangers of misusing and abusing bus and rail services,” he said.
During the school holidays in particular unsupervised children and young people can put themselves and others at risk by playing on or near railway lines or engaging in horseplay on buses.
The safety warning is particularly significant this summer, as Translink has recently introduced the new C3K trains to Northern Ireland, which are both faster and significantly quieter than their predecessors. Weighing around 140 tonnes, it can take trains travelling at 70mph more than a mile and a half to come to a complete stop.
“We are also carrying out extensive engineering work to relay the Larne Line and whist there are no trains running this summer between York Road and Larne, it is imperative that children understand that heavy engineering equipment is in use and that the engineering sites and railway tracks are dangerous places and should never be considered a playground.
"We also wish to alert road users to the dangers of ignoring signals at level crossings. It is important to note that trains travel at speeds of up to 70mph and operate day and night. It is crucial that drivers adhere to safety signals and observe warning lights, notices, signs and other audible alarms. At barrier crossings it is important to wait until the barriers are fully raised and warning lights are off," Mr Morrow concluded.
ENDS
For further information please contact Keelin Haughey at Morrow Communications on 028 9039 3837 or email k.haughey@morrowcommunications.com
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