Video footage of perilous incidents at level crossings has been released as part of a summer safety campaign.
In June, a girl was caught on camera running across a crossing in Fishbourne, West Sussex, just a couple of metres ahead of an oncoming train.
Recent CCTV footage also captured people hanging from rising crossing barriers in Chertsey, Surrey; rushing cyclists colliding in Hounslow, London; and a car swerving to avoid closing barriers in Bramley, Hampshire.
Network Rail, which released the video, stated that July is a peak time for such incidents.
Sam Pead, a regional level crossing manager, said: “It’s frustrating we continue to see people recklessly risking their lives when crossing the railway.
“Across the Southern region, trains can travel as fast as 140mph (225km/h) and are largely powered by the third rail, which carries more than enough electricity to kill or seriously injure and is always on.”
Farnham in Surrey and Star Lane in Wokingham, Berkshire, were the most misused level crossings in the Wessex region last year, according to Network Rail.
The footage from Hounslow showed cyclists colliding as they hurried to avoid the barriers, highlighting the dangers of rushing through level crossings.
Addlestone and Ash in Surrey and Poole High Street in Dorset also recorded more than one incident per month.
In Chertsey, CCTV captured a lorry tearing off a barrier as the driver attempted to escape the tracks.
Network Rail noted that incidents involving poorly trained or uncontrolled dogs have become more common post-Covid.
Clappers Lane in Ferring, West Sussex, recorded near misses involving a dog walker and a cyclist. At Ashtead Common, Surrey, a dog walker ignored a stop sign, and a dog was filmed waiting alone on the track at the same location.
Network Rail reported 28 near misses in the Wessex region during the 2023-24 financial year, which is 13% fewer than the previous year. However, incidents of level crossing misuse in the region rose by 24% to 466.
Find out more about the campaign on the Network Rail website.
