A new school trip programme, which aims to educate young people about the railway, has been started by Avanti West Coast.

The Feel Good Futures programme provides learning opportunities focused on the railway and future career opportunities.

14 to 18-year-olds can learn about the industry, which may have otherwise been inaccessible.

The school trips highlight the role of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) within the industry.

The programme is set to run for a year and builds on their previous programme – Feel Good Field Trips, which saw over 5,000 children take part.

They have already had their first field trip with year 10 pupils from The Heath School in Runcorn. They learned about Avanti’s train depot and how they maintain their Class 390 Pendolino fleet.

“Building on the success of Feel Good Field Trips, we are delighted to once again partner with David Savage and Community Rail Lancashire on an exciting new initiative, this time aimed at those in their later years of education who are seeking inspiration for when they embark on their career path. These young people are the next workforce generation, and Feel Good Futures is a fantastic way for them to learn what our exciting industry has to offer.”

“It was a pleasure to arrange a visit for The Heath School to Edge Hill Depot, where the pupils were able to learn about different engineering roles and see all the hard work that goes into ensuring our trains are maintained thoroughly.”

Dean Duthie, Engineering and Infrastructure Director at Avanti West Coast