High school students participated in the SAFE Around Trains Challenge at a myriad of locations, including on a stationary train at LA Union Station.
During See Tracks? Think Train!® Week, held Sept. 15-21 in conjunction with Rail Safety Month, Metrolink partnered with the Los Angeles-based nonprofit Streets Are For Everyone (SAFE) to engage student filmmakers in a campaign to promote rail safety. The SAFE Around Trains Challenge invited students to create thirty-second videos highlighting safe behaviors around trains and rail crossings. Under the close supervision of Metrolink safety personnel, participants captured footage on train platforms, near crossings and onboard stationary trains, turning their creativity into youth-driven safety messaging that reached the community in a fresh, engaging way.
Metrolink Marketing Manager Sheri Candler led the initiative, with support from Metrolink team members, including Emergency Manager Eric Smith, Partnerships Manager Amber Moyers and Corporate Sales Specialist Ricardo Davila III. Students filmed at the Newhall and Pomona-North stations, as well as historic LA Union Station, and received guidance on how to capture compelling visuals while adhering to strict safety protocols. A behind-the-scenes video on Metrolink’s Instagram channel highlighted the students’ creative process and the lessons they learned about rail safety through hands-on experience.
Metrolink Emergency Manager Eric Smith (right, in the orange vest), provides a safety briefing to student filmmakers participating in the SAFE Around Trains Challenge at the Newhall Station.
See Tracks? Think Train!® Week, formerly known as Rail Safety Week, is a concentrated campaign designed to raise awareness of safe behavior near railroad tracks. First held in the U.S. in 2017, the week-long observance brings together Operation Lifesaver Inc., state programs and rail safety partners across North America to educate the public and encourage smart choices. Collaborations like the SAFE Around Trains Challenge, allow us to explore new channels for educating the public while providing unique and meaningful development opportunities for our region’s students.