Rail Industry Unites with Railway Children to Raise Safeguarding Awareness
National three-day campaign sees rail partners travel over 1,000 miles to help protect vulnerable young people.
Date: 06/8/2026
Rail Industry Unites with Railway Children to Raise Safeguarding Awareness Across Britain
National three-day campaign sees rail partners travel over 1,000 miles to help protect vulnerable young people.
Author: Suzi Lawrence | Date: 6th August 2026
Train Operating Companies (TOCs) from across Britain joined forces with Railway Children and British Transport Police (BTP) to raise awareness of safeguarding issues affecting vulnerable young people on the rail network during a major national campaign held from 29th to 31st July 2026.
The coordinated programme of National Safeguarding Days of Action saw rail professionals, safeguarding specialists and charity representatives travel more than 1,000 miles across Scotland, England and Wales, engaging with passengers and staff to highlight how everyone can play a part in protecting vulnerable children and young people.
Led by Railway Children, the initiative brought together representatives from Avanti West Coast, Transport for Wales, Great Western Railway, Chiltern Railways, South Western Railway, LNER, Northern, ScotRail and CrossCountry, alongside BTP, Network Rail and other industry partners, in a united effort to increase public understanding of vulnerability, exploitation and safeguarding.
The campaign comes at a particularly important time, with a recent report revealing that more than 40% of people would not know what to do if they spotted a child at risk at a train station.
With summer holidays now underway and increased numbers of young people travelling independently, rail organisations are encouraging customers and staff to be vigilant and know how to respond if they have concerns.
Throughout the three-day event, safeguarding and rail professionals hosted awareness stands at key rail hubs including Glasgow Central, Preston, Crewe, Cardiff Central, Exeter St Davids, Salisbury, Southampton, Reading, London Paddington, Retford, Nottingham, Doncaster, Barnsley, Manchester Oxford Road, Newcastle and Edinburgh Waverley.
Alongside activity in stations, representatives from Train Operating Companies, Railway Children and British Transport Police undertook a symbolic rail journey around Britain, speaking directly with customers onboard trains and distributing educational safeguarding materials.
Joe Clay, Safeguarding Partnerships Manager at Railway Children, said:
“Our aim is to start vital conversations, equip the public and railway staff with the tools to spot the signs of exploitation or distress, and strengthen the protective network across the rail network. By bringing together professionals from across the country at this event, we highlighted the importance of partnership in safeguarding.”
The journey demonstrated how easily a vulnerable young person could travel from the north of the UK to the south, highlighting the importance of recognising signs of vulnerability and taking action to help safeguard young people.
By combining onboard engagement with station-based activities, the campaign reached communities across both urban and rural parts of Britain.
The initiative forms part of Railway Children’s “At Risk Right Here Right Now” campaign, which aims to increase public awareness of the dangers faced by vulnerable young people on the transport network and encourage people to report concerns using the British Transport Police’s 61016 text service.
“With the number of children and young people using the rail network increasing over the summer months, identifying those who need help can be a challenge. By working together with Railway Children and other train operators, we can share advice on the signs to look out for and encourage customers and colleagues to remain vigilant and report any concerns to British Transport Police.”
The campaign is part of a coordinated approach to support the rail industry’s ongoing efforts to create a safer environment for children and young people.
By encouraging greater awareness, vigilance and reporting, partners hope to ensure vulnerable individuals can access support at the earliest opportunity.
While the immediate impact of the initiative has been to spark important conversations and increase public understanding of safeguarding, organisers believe the long-term benefits will be even greater. By building awareness and confidence in reporting concerns, the campaign aims to contribute to a safer and more informed rail network, helping to prevent exploitation and ensuring young people get the support they need when they need it most.
Our latest updates
Hundreds of Rail Industry Supporters Scale British Peaks
More than 270 participants took on two iconic mountain challenges this summer, raising an incredible £252,546 to help vulnerable children in the UK, India and Tanzania.
Date: 10/7/2026
Leeds Station Safety Week
More than 1,000 children learn vital skills at Leeds Station Safety Week. The flagship safety initiative – now in its 10th year – got under way at the station on Monday 15 June and runs to Friday 19 June during Rail Safety Week (15-21 June).
Date: 19/6/2026
From separated to reunified
Subira is a family project worker for Railway Children in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Here is an exploration of her work and the impact that it has as she supports street-connected children and reunites families.
Date: 22/7/2026
What’s the difference between child protection and safeguarding?
Learn about safeguarding and how it relates to child protection on transport networks.
Date: 28/4/2026
Helping young people build a life away from the streets
No child wants to survive on the streets. And, through understanding and empowerment, together, we can ensure no child has to.
Date: 10/4/2026
