Superheroes deliver safety alert

Superheroes with a difference came to the rescue at Shrewsbury railway station as managers launched a campaign aimed at improving safety and behaviour on trains and at stations.Arriva Trains Wales has unveiled a “Super” Safety campaign with fallen versions of superheroes - Rush Gordon, Wander Woman and Super-Twerp - featuring on posters to illustrate behaviour that can lead to accidents.

As well as the high-profile poster campaign, the characters themselves paid a visit to the town centre station yesterday as part of a whistlestop tour to help highlight dangers to passengers.

Every year more than 100 accidents are reported at stations across Wales and its border region. Arriva estimates the figure could be doubled to include those not officially reported.

Drinking too much (Super-Twerp), rushing for trains or to exit stations (Rush Gordon) and not watching over children properly (Wander Woman) have been identified by Arriva as the three key reasons for accidents in stations and on board trains.

Nearly a quarter of all accidents, 23.3 per cent, happen on board trains, with the remaining 76.7 per cent taking place in stations.

Mike Bagshaw, commercial director for Arriva Trains Wales, said: “Safety on our trains and in our stations is our priority. Although the number of passenger accidents overall is decreasing, over 100 accidents per year is still too many.”