Level crossing near-misses caught on camera in Sussex
Network Rail has released the footage as part of a campaign aimed at keeping children safe during the school holidays
Shocking video footage showing children playing chicken with trains on level crossings in Sussex has been released as part of a new safety campaign.
Network Rail is urging young people to think about the dangers of misusing the railways as the school holidays get underway.
Latest figures show there were 194 incidents of misuse and 29 near misses at level crossings across Network Rail’s Sussex route in the last financial year.
The number of incidents has reduced by 15% in a year, but bosses are looking to get that number down further - saying even one near miss is too many.
The Bewbush crossing in Crawley has been named as the county's misuse hotspot with 12 incidents recorded in the year to April 2024, followed by the ones in Crawley High Street and at One O'Clock in Burgess Hill with nine each.
More widely, across Network Rail’s Southern region which serves rail passengers and freight operators from Devon in the West to Kent in the East right across the South of England, longer term trends (since 2017) show the number of level crossing misuse incidents has decreased by 15%, but the number of near misses has increased by 31%.
Network Rail has also launched its ‘Distracted? You’ve Crossed the Line’ safety campaign which aims to positively encourage young adults (aged 18-34) to take responsibility for their own personal safety and illustrate distractions such as taking selfies, listening to music or looking at a phone when using a level crossing.
Sam Pead, Network Rail’s Southern region level crossing manager, said: “While our railway is one of the safest in Europe, its critical people understand the dangers and potential consequences of misusing level crossings.
“It’s important to remember that some of the dangers on the railway aren’t always visible. Across the Southern region trains can travel up fast as 140mph and are largely powered by the third rail which carries more than enough electricity to kill or seriously injure and is always on."
Nick Turner, Network Rail’s Sussex route community safety manager, added:
"We work incredibly hard, alongside our Govia Thameslink Railway and British Transport Police partners, to raise awareness of the dangers of trespassing on the railway and misusing level crossings.
“We regularly work with local schools and the community through events at high-risk level and foot crossings, pop-up events at stations and school talks with the primary aim of educating the public and enhancing safety for everyone who regularly uses these crossings and the railway.”
Samantha Facey, Safety, Health and Security Director at Govia Thameslink Railway, said:
"We want people to be safe, feel safe, travel safe. We really can't overemphasise the need to be aware of how dangerous level crossings can be if they aren't used properly.
"People can easily be seriously hurt or even killed, and too many families have already been affected tragically.
"It's absolutely vital that the rail industry works together to get the safety message across: please, please respect the railway and use these crossings sensibly.”
Passengers who see any incidents of people jumping level crossing barriers are asked to reporting any concerns to British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 405040.