Media centre

Monday 5 Oct 2015

Delivering a lesson in level crossing safety

Region & Route:

National

Network Rail is delivering a level crossing lesson to new students as it is revealed that more than 2,000 young people have been involved in a near miss with a train at a level crossing in the past five years, with seven tragic fatalities. The lesson comes as thousands of young people embark on new educational journeys at colleges and universities all over the country.

Over the coming weeks, Network Rail’s 100-strong army of level crossing managers will aim to visit up to 25 colleges and universities which are in close proximity to level crossings. It will hand out leaflets and stick-on guides for mobile phones, reminding students about the importance of staying alert at crossings. Many students will be unfamiliar with their new surroundings, and may have never lived in an area with level crossings. The safety team will aim to improve awareness of how different level crossings operate and how to stay safe.

In the majority of the instances involving young people at level crossings, they appear to have been distracted, listening to music through headphones, and not alert to the dangers posed by crossing the railway.

Among the advice that the level crossing team will be giving, they will be urging young people to: 

• Avoid distraction. Take off headphones and put away phones so that they can concentrate and understand the warnings that are being given at the level crossing.

• Stay alert. If in a group, not to assume that someone else is looking out for them. Check both ways before crossing.

• Never assume that they know train patterns or that a second train isn’t coming if the warnings continue.

• Never jump the lights or the barriers – a train is approaching.

Darren Cottrell, head of level crossing safety at Network Rail, explains: “We know a lot of young people move to a new town or city for college or university, and can be unfamiliar with the railway and how the level crossings work in that area. We want to work with student organisations and groups to help raise awareness amongst students to keep them safe in their new homes.  

“We have one of the safest railways in Europe but still tragically a number of young people have lost their lives at level crossings in recent years. Many have seemingly been distracted by their phones, music or conversation.  We’ve created some simple tips and advice to help students cross the railway safely and with confidence – put simply, stay alert and stay alive.”

British Transport Police is supporting the student level crossing campaign. They are visiting level crossings, schools and colleges, alongside Network Rail’s safety teams, all over the country this week (Monday 5 – Sunday 11 October) as part of Operation Look promoting level crossing safety awareness. 

The student level crossing campaign is the fourth in a series of targeted campaigns to high risk groups of level crossing users. These began in June 2015, with messages aimed at cyclists, dog-walkers and farmers. Specially targeted information for professional drivers will be launched later in the year.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Network Rail is investing £100million into its programme to improve level crossing safety as part of its Railway Upgrade Plan. Since 2010 it has:  

• Closed over 930 level crossings
• Replaced footpath crossings with footbridges
• Installing warning lights as an additional safety measure at footpath crossings
• Launched a new schools programme – Rail Life – teaching both primary and secondary school children about how to stay safe when crossing the railway
• Rolled out safety camera enforcement vans
• Invested in new technology such as the obstacle detection radar technology
• Introduced power operated gate openers
• Installed spoken warnings to announce when “another train is coming” after one train has passed through
• Employed more than 100 new dedicated level crossing managers