Railways are a hazardous environment and we give all our staff lots of training to make sure they know how to keep themselves safe – please don’t put yourself at risk.
If you, your car, your bike or your van collide with a tram or train – you are going to come off far worse.
Here’s some tips to help keep yourself safe around our railways:
- We sometimes operate even when the timetable says we’re closed – we have engineering works vehicles, private hires and special events throughout the year
- Trains and trams are heavy, they can’t stop immediately, and our drivers can’t swerve to avoid you – so please don’t get in their way
- Barriers and flashing warning lights are there for a reason – don’t race them. On road crossings without barriers take extra care to make sure the line is clear
- Only use designated crossing places – others may not be safely accessible, or be visible to our drivers. Make sure to look both ways and cross carefully; if a tram or train is approaching, let it pass, it will only take a few moments to wait for it. Enjoy the scene, wave to the driver!
- The views from our railways are phenominal, but please don’t walk along the tracks to get there. Ballast is hard to walk on, sleepers and rails are slippery, and in remote areas emergency services would struggle to get to you if anything happened. If you were alone and immobilised on the track, by a slip or trip for instance, a tram or train may not be able to stop in time to avoid causing you serious injury
- Trams and trains are wider than the tracks, so don’t stand too close and don’t stand in areas with limited clearance
- On electrified lines it may not always be obvious which parts of railway equipment are safe to touch, so err on the side of caution
- Take care passing our horse trams – undertake don’t overtake, and if you’re in front of the tram remember if you brake harshly the horse tram may not stop as quickly as you did!
Stay safe and stay off railway property
