Nexus, which owns and manages the Tyne and Wear Metro, has given local school children the chance to design a series of level crossing safety posters which have been published in an eye-catching new calendar.
Two schools located near to Metro level crossings in Newcastle and North Tyneside have been involved in the campaign – Walkergate Community School and Stephenson Memorial Primary School.
They were joined in the initiative by the 31st St Nicholas Girl Guide Group in Sunderland.
They all had special classroom visit from Nexus to learn about the safe pedestrian use of Metro level crossings, including the new red safety warning lights which were installed across the system in December 2014.
The children were then asked to design their own safety posters, with the designs being reproduced in a 2016 wall calendar that the schools will hand out to all of their pupils.
The calendars are also to be handed out at a special Nexus Christmas carol service at St Andrew’s Church in Newcastle, featuring pupils from South Gosforth First School on Wednesday December 16.
Nexus Youth Liaison Officer, Deborah Rodenby, said: “This campaign has been all about targeting the safety message at those pupils who regularly have to access level crossings to get to school.
“I showed them the pedestrian stop lights and the dangers to watch out for when a train is approaching. It’s all about making them aware of the dangers and how they can use the crossing safely.
“They then had to put what they had learnt into practice by designing the safety posters, which have been turned into a calendar for 2016. Each month has its own safety message, so it’s a really striking way for them and their parents to be reminded of staying safe near level crossings.”
In December 2014 Nexus successfully completed an £800,000 project to improve safety at Metro level crossings – including the introduction of warning lights for pedestrians.
Five level crossings, which are maintained by Nexus, received a series of safety upgrades as part of the £389m Metro: all change modernisation programme.
One of the most significant improvements is the new warning lights on pedestrian crossings. These turn red to alert pedestrians that a Metro train is approaching.
There are also brighter stop lights for motorists, clearer road signs and road markings, and tactile paving for the visually impaired.
The safety features have been installed at Callerton Parkway, Bank Foot Kingston Park and Fawdon level crossings in Newcastle, and at Howdon level crossing in North Tyneside.
Nexus already visits hundreds of schools across Tyne and Wear to promote railway safety.