Working together for safer travel: TransPennine Express joins Greater Manchester partnership
TransPennine Express (TPE) has joined a partnership dedicated to making public transport across Greater Manchester safe and secure.
The TravelSafe Partnership brings together transport operators, local authorities and police to tackle crime, antisocial behaviour and fare evasion. By joining, TPE is strengthening its commitment to protecting passengers and staff.
TravelSafe provides a strong visible presence, with officers and staff spending around 15,000 hours a week patrolling public transport networks. Alongside enforcement, the Partnership works with schools, colleges and universities to promote safe travel and uses approaches such as restorative justice and neighbourhood watch schemes.
Stephen O’Callaghan, Safeguarding and Crime Prevention Lead at TransPennine Express, said: "Joining the TravelSafe Partnership is an important step for us. We want every journey with TransPennine Express to feel safe and secure, and working together with our partners helps make that happen."
When needed, the partnership can take firm action, including removing travel passes, issuing exclusion orders and applying for civil injunctions against persistent offenders.
The most recent collaboration was for White Ribbon Day at Manchester Piccadilly station, raising awareness of violence against women and girls.
Colleagues from the partnership 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.
Kate Green, TfGM’s TravelSafe Partnership Manager, said: “I’m delighted to welcome TransPennine Express to the Greater Manchester TravelSafe Partnership. This comes at an important moment for our local trains as we celebrate a year out from integrating our rail services into the Bee Network. Collaboration will be vital for ensuring that everyone in Greater Manchester benefits from safer, sustainable, reliable services, and helping us deliver a transport network that meets the needs of everyone in our city region.
“Everyone who works or travels on public transport in Greater Manchester should feel, and be, safe at all times, and we can only achieve this when we work together.”