Northamptonshire pupils taught about new overhead electric wires

Rail staff delivered safety lessons to children prior to new overhead electric wires being powered up.

Network Rail, which owns Britain’s railway infrastructure, said staff had been involved in delivering “safety assemblies” at a number of primary schools in Northamptonshire.

The session were part of the train company’s preparation for the powering up of overhead wires between Kettering, in Northamptonshire, and Wigston, in Leicestershire.

Network Rail said 25,000 volts would soon be running through 22 miles (36 km) of newly-installed overhead wire which would power new trains.

Network Rail said in a statement: “Britain’s railways are some of the safest in the world, but Network Rail’s message to school children has been that from Sunday 28 July the overhead wires will be ‘Always On!’ and that they can be deadly.

“Safety assemblies have been delivered across Kettering at Millbrook Junior School, Barton Seagrave Primary School, and Rushton Primary School.

“Children have been warned about the dangers of trespassing, with trains through the area travelling at up to 125mph.”

Hayley Manners, Network Rail’s community safety manager in the east Midlands, added: “The railway through Northamptonshire and Leicestershire is going through some big changes in the coming weeks and it is crucial that we teach children the importance of staying safe around it.

“The Midland main line is a major arterial route from Sheffield and Nottingham, through the East Midlands, and into London St Pancras, with hundreds of trains per day travelling through Kettering.

“Trespassing on the railway is incredibly dangerous, but there will soon be live electric wires overhead which adds an extra risk to people if they misuse the railway.”

In June 2023, the family of an 11-year-old boy, electrocuted at a rail depot six years earlier, urged parents to teach children about rail safety.

Harrison Ballantyne died on 27 June 2017 after entering Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal to retrieve a football.