A campaign to reduce unsightly litter on stations and trains across the rail network has been launched by Arriva Trains Wales (ATW).
The campaign, supported by Keep Wales Tidy, Keep Britain Tidy and Network Rail was launched at Cardiff Central station by Jane Davidson AM, Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing.
The ‘Bin It or Take It Home’ message encourages passengers to dispose of their litter in a responsible manner. It also highlights the importance of passenger perception and visitor’s first impressions of towns and cities when waiting on a station or travelling by train.
Wayne Cresswell, station manager at Cardiff Central, said: “Our objective is to maintain a welcoming environment both at stations and on trains because first impressions count. The annual national passenger survey regularly reflects that passengers want clean and tidy stations, which are often gateways to cities, towns and villages. By disposing of their rubbish in a responsible manner, passengers can help us maintain a clean and safe environment.”
Arriva’s 244 stations are cleaned on a regular basis by its station care teams. On train litter clearance is also undertaken during journeys on selected routes and at night-time at maintenance depots.
The railway is also a prime target for litter and fly-tipping (illegally dumped rubbish) by members of the public. When rubbish such as household and building waste is dumped near the railway, it causes health & safety problems. Every year, people are killed or injured when they trespass on railway land <http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/1037.aspx> . It is a criminal offence and carries a fine of up to £1,000.
Speaking at the launch, Jane Davidson AM, said: “One of my key aims is for the people of Wales and visitors to be able to enjoy cleaner communities and countryside. That's why I support this partnership between Arriva Trains Wales and Keep Wales Tidy, Keep Britain Tidy and Network Rail.”
She continued: “Cleaning up litter and fly-tipped waste costs Wales over £70 million a year, in addition to the environmental costs. I hope this initiative will lead to cleaner stations, trains and railways, and mean that in the future we no longer need to spend such amounts of taxpayers' money dealing with these environmental crimes."
Lesley Jones, chief executive of Keep Wales Tidy, said: “Regular surveys undertaken by us show that our nation’s towns and countryside are getting cleaner – but we still have some way to go if we are to create a Wales that is Safe, Clean and Tidy. Littering on our rail network is a problem that needs be faced and we are very encouraged that major operators like Network Rail and Arriva Trains are joining us in the battle.”
She added: “We are all agreed that people’s first impressions are usually lasting ones. The rail gateways and routes through Wales will give the visitor an impression of our country as a whole. It is important that together we pull out all the stops to ensure that in the near future, visitors will be going home with a positive image of Wales and its environment.”
Alan Milne, community safety manager for Network Rail, said: “Littering is not only illegal, it blights the station environment and may sometimes threaten the safe running of the railway. We welcome this awareness campaign and the support from the community and the industry to help tackle this problem, so that passengers will continue to benefit from a clean and safe railway.”
Notes to Editors
1. Photographed at the launch of the Litter Awareness Campaign are from right to left; Lesley Jones, Chief Executive Keep Wales Tidy, Jane Davidson AM, Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing, and Wayne Cresswell, Station Manager Cardiff Central
2. Arriva Trains Wales operate train services across Wales and the border counties of England. It provides 955 services a day and operates 244 stations – 53 of which are staffed. Arriva is responsible for clearing litter from station platforms
3. Network Rail maintain and develop Britain’s tracks, signaling, rail bridges, tunnels, level crossings, viaducts and 18 key stations. Network Rail is responsible for clearing litter from railway tracks and fly tipping from the lineside.
4. More than 30 bags of litter were collected from the track during a recent clean at Cardiff, Newport and Swansea stations.
5. Keep Wales Tidy’s vision is of "A Clean, Safe and Tidy Wales.” Keep Wales Tidy does not take responsibility for the cleanliness and tidiness of Wales. However, it engages in activities that encourage individuals, groups and organisations to act in a way that achieves a Clean, Safe and Tidy Wales.
6. Arriva Trains Wales has attained the Level 2 Green Dragon Environmental Award at Cardiff Central Station. This standard recognises businesses across Wales that have made a commitment to safeguarding the environment, and are taking actions to protect and improve it.
7. An estimated 130 tonnes of controlled waste is removed from Cardiff Central each year
8. Roughly 211,700 cigarette ends are being littered every day in Wales. That equates to 773 Million a year. Cigarette butts take four years to degrade.
9. A security directive from the Department for Transport prevents public litter bins from being available at Cardiff Central station; however this is compensated by regular litter patrols