Seconds to Safety: spot and protect children at risk – and still make your train!
In a recent report, more than 40% of people said they wouldn’t know what to do if they spotted a child at risk at a train station.* That’s a statistic that Railway Children’s new interactive game, Seconds to Safety, is here to change.
Author: Lucy Carman | Date: 15th June 2026
Vulnerability on the network
Young people use public transport more than any other age group in the UK. Most are simply getting to school or college, meeting friends or enjoying time out. But, every day, vulnerable children face county lines exploitation, grooming and abuse on the transport network. And the signs can be subtle: a controlling adult, a one-way ticket paid in cash, a child who seems unsure of their route or who is trying to hide.
But through being dropped, visually, into a busy station environment and making observations and decisions in a real time, Railway Children’s new interactive app Seconds to Safety helps players spot vulnerability and take action to keep young people safe.
“As we roll out the Seconds to Safety app, the lifesaving message that they can play a part in keeping young people safe will meet passengers where they’re at – on the platform,” says Joe Clay, Programme Manager: Safeguarding Partnerships at Railway Children.
The game encourages players to:
- Spot indicators of vulnerability in real-world station environments.
- Decide when to approach, when to observe and when to escalate concerns.
- Learn exactly who to tell and how to act on a safeguarding concern.
Rail Safety Week launch
The game debuts during Rail Safety Week (15-21 June) before being fully launched as an app for the public – perfect for assemblies, youth groups and commuter downtime.
This is the first time Railway Children has entered the interactive gaming world. A development made possible thanks to the generosity of their corporate partner, Angel Trains and the insight and expertise of technology and innovation consultancy firm, Chrome Angel.
David Jordan, COO of Angel Trains said: “We’re proud to partner with Railway Children to get practical safeguarding messaging into the hands of everyday passengers. We look forward to this innovative game being used far and wide, helping more passengers understand the issues young people may face on the rail network and, importantly, how we can all play a part in keeping each other safe.”
If you’re worried about a child on the transport network, speak to station staff or text British Transport Police on 61016.
Register now
Be one of the first to receive the app
*Transport for the North, September 2025
