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Unique project to tackle trespassing, vandalism and hoax calls
A MULTI-AGENCY
campaign to tackle anti-social behaviour, trespassing on train
tracks, and promoting the dangers of hoax calls and vandalism to
youngsters has been showcased at a special event in Merseyside.
Called ‘Your Choice’, the project is unique in the UK and
involves a rap group, drama workshops, Who Wants to Be A
Millionaire-style competition, a web detective game, vehicle tour
and interaction with police horses, drugs dogs, fire fighters, and
paramedics. The aim of the project is to encourage young
people to think about the consequences of their actions.
Councillor Mark Dowd, Chair of Merseytravel, who organise the event
alongside a number of key Merseyside agencies, said:- “This
project is unique and helps children to realise that there are
consequences to every action. Trespassing on train tracks,
hoax phone calls, throwing stones at buses and trains and vandalism
can all cost lives.”
Councillor Dave Antrobus, Executive Member for Community Safety for
Liverpool City Council, said:- “Education is the key to
teaching youngsters the dangers of their actions and this is a
really valuable project. It could well help prevent a serious injury
and even prove to be a lifesaver.”
A part of the showcase, the partnership launched a new website based
around the event and dedicated to Merseyside’s young people.
The website is
yourchoiceconference.org.uk.
During the showcase, rap group Systems D sung the “Your Choice”
rap, using modern music to promote serious messages about keeping
safe, drinking alcohol and vandalism. The Mojo Theatre Company
from Kirkby performed a play about a boy called Charlie who skips
school, plays on train tracks and pays the price with disastrous
consequences.
The Your Choice events are supported by a number of key Merseyside
agencies including Merseytravel, Citysafe, Merseyside Police,
British Transport Police, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, Mersey
Regional Ambulance Service, bus operators Arriva and Stagecoach,
schools and Merseyside’s local authorities. |
Merseyrail tops UK rail passenger polls
PASSENGERS
using Merseyrail regard it as one of the country’s best train
operating companies, a major UK survey reveals. The National
Passenger Survey (NPS), carried out by independent rail consumer
watchdog Passenger Focus, puts Merseyrail top in a number of key
categories in the satisfaction survey.
Merseyrail tops the national poll for; value for money (68%
satisfaction), connections with other train services (84%) and
provision of information during a journey (85%). It also comes
a close 2nd in several other categories, including the frequency of
trains on the service (91%), the speed of trains (92%), punctuality
and reliability (86%) and train comfort (81%).
Merseytravel has full powers over the performance, investment and
consumer protection for the Merseyrail Electrics franchise and works
with Merseyrail Electrics operators Serco NedRailways to deliver the
improving services.
Councillor Mark Dowd, Chair of Merseytravel, said:- “These
results are based on the satisfaction of passengers who are using
the service so it is very important to us to see Merseyrail topping
so many important categories in this survey. We are always
looking to find ways to improve the Merseyrail network and we are
never complacent. We know we have a good service, but we also know
we can improve further.”
Neil Scales, Chief Executive and Director General of Merseytravel
added:- “We’re pleased to see passengers are so positive about
Merseyrail. It is a fantastic partnership and we hope people will
continue to see the improvements we are making year on year.
It is regularly one of the best performing train-operating companies
in the UK and we are investing a great deal of money and effort into
improving stations, trains and safety.”
The Merseyrail network covers 67 stations, with over 30 million
passenger journeys made on the network each year.
Merseytravel recently completed a programme of refurbishment of the
entire Merseyrail fleet of trains, 59 units in total, at a cost of
more than £34million.
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