Students learn lifesaving rail safety lessons
The state’s regional passenger rail provider NSW TrainLink and rail safety charity TrackSAFE are joining forces in a new push to encourage educators to take advantage of free lesson resources on railway safety this school year.
TrackSAFE provides curriculum-aligned online resources while NSW TrainLink is supporting this through hands on opportunities for schools to visit and learn about rail safety at their local railway station in regional NSW.
TrackSAFE’s website offers the interactive and age-appropriate lessons including a Thomas and Friends module for preschoolers, a primary school kit featuring animated characters like ‘Safety Line and the ‘Safety Crew’, and a high school pack that encourages students to be safe and responsible around the rail network.
Additionally, an at-home guide is available to help parents and carers continue rail safety discussions beyond the classroom.
TrackSAFE’s Communications Manager Hope Steele said these lessons help students learn to observe critical signs, avoid distractions, and act responsibly around rail environments, instilling lifelong safety habits in the process.
“People are never too young, or old, to learn how to stay safe on and around rail and rail safety is an essential life skill. We want to spread the word about these excellent interactive resources and talk about the importance of safety around tracks especially in regional areas,” she said.
“With more than 1,650 near-hits occurring on Australian railways each year, the need for early education cannot be overstated. Every incident is a reminder of the risks and the role we all play in keeping our railways safe.
Alongside this collaboration with TrackSAFE, NSW TrainLink regularly visits schools, and hosts excursions to railway stations where students learn about safe behaviour at platforms, level crossings and on-board trains as well as the dangers of trespassing in the rail corridor.
NSW TrainLink’s Director of Service Delivery Natalie Noyeaux emphasised that workplace safety is a top priority for the organisation and its entire workforce.
She also highlighted the staff's strong commitment to sharing essential rail safety messages with their local communities.
“All children are likely to come across trains, trams or light rail and their tracks either in the city or country at some stage in their lives and learning how to stay safe around them from a very early age is essential. That’s why these TrackSAFE resources are so great.”
“By working closely with schools, we foster a culture where rail safety becomes a shared responsibility across the entire community. Teaching children the right habits ensure they understand how to stay safe,” she said.
Year 5 teacher Mercedes Goss recently introduced her class to TrackSAFE’s interactive rail safety resources and said students engaged extremely well with the online materials.
“The kit provides teachers with straightforward lesson plans that make learning about rail safety simple and fun. These engaging and accessible resources are a great way to reinforce essential safety awareness for students, I encourage all teachers to bring these lessons into their classrooms,” Ms Goss said.
NSW TrainLink operates around 160 regional long-distance train services each week, across a 5,890-kilometre rail network in NSW, Queensland, Victoria, and the ACT.
TrackSAFE is Australia’s only harm prevention charity focused on reducing deaths, injuries and near hits on the rail network and improving the wellbeing of rail employees.
Pre-schools, schools, and other educators can access the TrackSAFE curriculum materials at https://tracksafefoundation.com.au/school-education/