Freight Rail, Safety, Standards & Regulation

Aurizon enlists Knights for school rail safety program

Aurizon Train

Leading freight rail operator Aurizon has partnered with the Newcastle Knights football team to last week launch a new interactive presentation on rail safety to primary schools in the Hunter Valley region.

According to Paul Cronin, Aurizon’s vice president of brand and communications, the program presented Aurizon’s award-winning safety program in an interactive format specially designed for school-age children.

“Safety is core to Aurizon’s operations and with our growing presence in the Hunter Valley, we want to make sure the community, and particularly school children, are aware of the importance of rail safety,” Mr Cronin said.

“We are proud to continue our work with our Rail Safety Ambassadors, the Newcastle Knights, to reinforce the messages of the dangers associated with getting too close to trains.”

The program features an animated character called “Barry the Ball” who along with Newcastle Knights players presents the audience with a safety “game plan” for level crossings, centring on the slogan “Stop, Look Listen and Think!”

As part of the program, the Newcastle Knights will join Aurizon representatives in visiting several schools along the Hunter Valley rail corridor. Indeed, last Thursday, Knights player Anthony Tupou visited Muswellbrook Primary School to launch the new program.

Newcastle Knights CEO Matt Gidley said the program was “a positive way the Knights can make a difference and help save lives in our community.

“We are delighted to be able to support Aurizon on this industry benchmark initiative to that aims to keep children and families of the Hunter safe.”

Aurizon’s safety program will be running at schools in the Hunter Valley area across school terms 2 and 3 this year.