Death of teenager leads to rail safety action plan

A railway safety action plan has been created after the death of a teenager.

Portsmouth City Council has outlined steps taken to improve rail safety after Jake Norman, 17, died in April 2023.

Officers at the time said they did not know why he had been on the tracks at Cosham Railway Station, but his death was not suspicious.

Mr Norman's family previously issued a warning about rail line dangers.

In a tribute, they described him as a "very strong-willed young man, who always thought about others first", adding he was "adored" by friends and family.

The authority's new action plan comes after a motion was proposed by councillor Hannah Brent.

Her motion called on the council's transport cabinet member, Peter Candlish, to engage with Network Rail and explore safety improvements, focusing on access points to railway lines.

As part of the plan, railway boundaries have been reviewed and, where necessary, heights increased.

Network Rail has also begun working with schools and colleges to deliver rail safety talks and demonstrations.

Cllr Candlish said: "I was at a stakeholders' meeting with the rail bodies, there is a focus on this and they do respond to the interaction with us to try and address these, although they recognise they have a way to go. It's a never-ending task."

Ellie Burrows from Network Rail said the firm was doing "all that we can" to educate young people about the railway."

Writing to Portsmouth City Council leader, Steve Pitt, she added: "We need your help to encourage uptake, promote engagement and improve the reach of our campaigns."

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