Health and Safety

Health and safety has always been a top priority for us and we're as dedicated as ever to running a safe railway for everyone. You can find out more about ways we make sure safety is top priority by downloading our health and safety policy.

Operational Safety

We work hard to reduce Signals Passed at Danger (SPADs) and other operational safety incidents. We have one of the lowest levels of Signals Passed at Danger (SPAD) per mile compared with the rail industry.

Employee Safety

All employees are trained on the Injury Prevention (IP) programme, which creates a proactive culture to report potential risks. Since 2004 we have reduced employee accidents by over two thirds.

Results from our employee survey indicate employees continue to consider us a safer place to work now than the start of the franchise- if it’s not safe, we don’t do it.

Customer Safety

In recent years there has been a rising trend in customer accidents across the rail industry as a whole, with behavioural causes like struggling with luggage and running for trains. A key focus in our improvement plans include safety videos and signage to raise awareness of the dangers of running down stairs or not using the lifts when carrying heavy luggage.

Security

Our investment in communication systems, CCTV and help points, on board, stations and car parks has helped us to achieve ‘Secure Station’ status at all our stations (19) and the ‘Park Mark’ award for safety and security at all station car parks we operate (13).

Railway Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour

We work with British Transport Police and in addition investement in Community Support police to strengthen patrols and also work with local communities to reduce anti-social behaviour.

We run a programme of rail safety events with a charity and also Network Rail to educate young people about keeping safe on the railway and about rail crime and the consequences.

There are various safety and events management groups who work with industry partners to tackle anti-social behaviour on our trains and stations.

We work with the Samaritans and Network Rail on suicide prevention initiatives and provided specialist awareness training to employees to spot potential signs from members of the public who are threatening to take their life.