Arriva Trains Wales | POSTER COMPETITION PROMOTES SAFETY MESSAGE TO SCHOOL KIDS

POSTER COMPETITION PROMOTES SAFETY MESSAGE TO SCHOOL KIDS

Pupilsfrom Abercarn Primary School near Ebbw Vale, have come up with some winning ideas for rail safety posters in a competition run by Arriva Trains Wales and the British Transport Police.

Cwmcarn Primary The pupils have been learning about trespass and the dangers of playing near the railway and were asked to design posters promoting the rail safety message.

Steel trains used to run on the railway line which is adjacent to the school but with the closure of Ebbw Vale steelworks , the line became disused and trains stopped running. Now with new Ebbw Valley rail service due to open later this year, passenger trains will once again run along the valley to Ebbw Vale.

Sergeant Mark Clelland of the British Transport Police, said: "None of these children will have seen many, if any trains running along the valley therefore it is important that we raise their awareness befiore the line opens later this year. The poster competition has been a fun way of getting a very serious message across to the pupils and their parents."

Geraint Morgan, community affairs manager for Arriva Trains Wales, said: "The standard of entries was exceptional with many bright and colourful posters making the judging a difficult task. Some of the children will not have been on a train before therefore when the line re-opens, we will be offering those who participated in the competition a free ride to Cardiff Bay as a reward for their efforts."

The winning entry went to Mollie Kendall aged 10 with Luke Hunt, 11, getting second prize and Rhys Hendy, 11, getting third prize.