Competition

A Downshire School student has been selected from over 4000 entries as the winner of a Translink rail safety competition.

Year 10 pupil Bradley Dubois entered the online contest last year after seeing the transport body’s award-winning iPredict show.

As well as an iPad mini, Bradley’s prize includes a day trip for his class on NI Railways.

Downshire School principal Jacqueline Stewart said: “We’re delighted that one of our pupils was selected as the winner of the overall prize for iPredict and that he and his classmates will get the opportunity to travel together on NI Railways services. “What’s even more important however is that the pupils who saw the performance still remember the safety messages, as well as being really impressed by the amazing illusion and digital media that was used to communicate them.”

NI Railways Route Manager, Frank Moore added: “Downshire was the very first school where iPredict was performed in 2014 and we have just completed another three-week run of the performance, this time including youth groups and train stations.

“Educating people how to keep themselves safe while on or near the railway network is one of our biggest challenges. “Unfortunately these safety messages cannot be repeated enough as people continue to take risks by using the rail network as a shortcut or behaving foolishly near level crossings or at train stations.”

iPredict is aimed at 9-15 year olds and uses performance, magic and digital media to predict the outcomes of an imaginary train journey.

It challenges their thoughts about rail safety including pedestrian trespass, train speeds, stopping distances and technology distraction.

The project was also awarded the prize for Cultural branding at the recent Arts & Business awards, for its creativity in managing a difficult subject.

Paul Bosco Mc Eneaney, artistic director of Cahoots NI said: “The objective of this partnership from the outset was to develop a relevant and entertaining project which appealed to the target age group of 9-15 year olds but also delivered a fundamental message about rail safety to the audience.

“Using Cahoots NI’s unique style of magic and illusion we developed with Translink this technology driven performance with the use of iPads and screens to create magical effects around the theme of rail safety with pupils experiencing extraordinary feats of magic right before their eyes. We were delighted to bring iPredict back for a second year running.”