Keeping Our Railways Safe: A Conversation with Kelly Pugh

A Warm Introduction Over Coffee and Cake.

A couple of weeks ago, I met Janice Mitchell-Rose, the Workforce Health Safety & Environment Coach from Network Rail, and she introduced me to Kelly and Alison.

Earlier this week, I had the great pleasure of meeting Kelly Pugh the School Liaison Officer for Transport for Wales at a charming little café in Machynlleth. With her passion for rail safety and level crossing awareness, I couldn’t help but dive into a conversation that sparked a host of ideas on how the Cambrian Railway Partnership (CRP) can further champion rail safety, not just during Rail Safety Week, but all year round.

 Sitting down with Kelly, I was immediately struck by her enthusiasm and deep commitment to her role. As someone who works so closely with our communities along the Cambrian Line, Kelly detailed what her role entails:

“My name is Kelly. I work as a School Liaison Officer for Transport for Wales. One part of my role is attending schools along the Cambrian line teaching pupils about rail safety. I also attend youth clubs around the area. Another part of my role is to travel on the school trains assisting the conductors and sorting any issues the pupils might have.”

Her words painted a vivid picture of her day-to-day work in engaging young minds, supporting the conductors on school trains and ensuring that each interaction leaves an impression of safety and care.

Kelly’s role is multifaceted and very busy. We talked in more detail about the different areas.

Educational Role: She visits schools and youth clubs along the Cambrian Line to educate pupils about rail safety and level crossing awareness.

On-Board Support: Kelly travels on school trains to assist conductors and manage any issues that arise from pupils, ensuring a smooth and safe journey.

Community Building: By engaging with young people, Kelly helps build a community that is informed, safe and proactive about rail safety.

 During our conversation, several important questions naturally emerged.

How can the Cambrian Railway Partnership get involved for Rail Safety Week? The thoughts we had were:

Educational Outreach: Support school sessions and community events in collaboration with Kelly and Alison.

Collaborative Partnerships: Work closely with Transport for Wales and Network Rail Community Safety Manager Alison to collaborate on public awareness campaigns and hands-on safety demonstrations.

Community Engagement and Support: Utilise our local networks to amplify the message that rail safety and level crossing safety are not just one-off campaigns, but ongoing commitments.

Meetings: To meet regularly so that we can share what we are doing and be more connected.

I already have several dates pencilled in to visit schools alongside Kelly, and I’m looking forward to a meeting with Alison, who works so closely with Kelly. These upcoming dates aren’t just calendar entries, they represent our firm commitment to creating a safe, informed and connected community along the Cambrian Line.