Railway staff visit 70 stations to promote the White Ribbon promise

To mark the annual White Ribbon Day (25th November), more than 50 colleagues visited stations around the country to ask fellow staff and customers to sign the “White Ribbon promise” – the promise is a declaration that asks those who sign up to never excuse or remain silent about male violence against women and girls.

• Southeastern staff travelled from Ashford International, Chatham and Ramsgate, stopping at over 30 key locations across the network identified through Kent’s Domestic Abuse Partnership, before heading into London terminals
• SWR staff travelled from Weymouth to Waterloo, stopping at Winchester, Woking and Wimbledon stations. At Waterloo, their staff will form a human chain to symbolise the stand being taken against violence aimed at women and girls
• TransPennine Express and Northern staff joined forces to cover Sheffield, York, Manchester, Liverpool, Bolton, Leeds, Dewsbury and Huddersfield
• Northern also hosted a White Ribbon stall in Leeds station’s safe hub with Victim Support, British Transport Police (BTP), Railway Children and Amulet Security
• Greater Anglia visited Norwich, Ipswich, Cambridge, Beaulieu Park and Colchester and more on their way to London Liverpool Street
• LNER hosted a drop-in at their London Kings Cross colleague hub
• c2c unveiled a White Ribbon branded train at Southend Central station.

Lillian Greenwood, minister for local transport said: “The support of the publicly owned operators for the White Ribbon campaign shows real leadership in helping to make our transport network a safer place for women and girls.

"Everyone should feel confident when they travel, and it’s inspiring to see staff taking practical steps to promote safety and equality, bringing communities together to make our railway a place where all passengers feel safe."

Lynne Elliot, White Ribbon UK chief executive said: "It's brilliant to see such a strong commitment across the rail industry in preventing violence against women and girls. This year, we've seen first hand how many rail networks across the UK are taking actions to make everyone feel safe when travelling by being White Ribbon Accredited and hosting various activities to raise awareness for White Ribbon Day."

The publicly owned operators’ commitment to the White Ribbon campaign is backed up by formal White Ribbon accreditations, achieved by five operators so far, including all those in longer term public ownership.

Accreditation requires organisations to have defined action plans in place to deliver positive culture change in the workplace and wider community.

Many of the volunteers from publicly owned operators taking part in the day’s events are registered White Ribbon Champions or Ambassadors, who promote the values of the White Ribbon campaign within their businesses.

Southeastern’s safeguarding liaison manager and White Ribbon lead, Adam Downing said: “We are proud to be a White Ribbon accredited organisation and to work with our partners to deliver an action plan to help end violence against women and girls.

“Today, colleagues from train operators across the country have come together to send out a strong, united message: our railway should be a place where women and girls experience a culture of safety and respect.”

This year’s White Ribbon Day theme was ‘We Speak Up’. The events taking place across the railway supported this theme, with staff sharing the important message of speaking up and not letting sexism slide, as sexist jokes, comments, catcalling and staring can lead on to serious violence and abuse.