The Railway Children charity and British Transport Police have launched a nationwide initiative to help station staff spot and help runaway children who typically flock to concourses.
The Safeguarding Children in Transport (SCT) scheme is going live at eight Central London termini, Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Central, and 12 English regional railheads and will help inform rail and station retail outlet staff.
Charity spokesperson Andrew Collis told Transport Network: 'Staff will be able to give vulnerable young people useful information including helpline phone numbers as well as contacting BTP if necessary.'
In 2014, BTP were involved in 6000 incidents with young people, many of them runaways. The charity is concerned that red light districts near major termini are a particular risk.
Transport union leader Mick Cash said: 'RMT welcomes and supports this important initiative. The safety of our railways for the whole of the travelling public, young and old alike, relies on having staff in place to act as the eyes and ears of the network'.
