Network Rail and British Transport Police issue further warning in East Midlands as new images show children dicing with death at level crossing: Network Rail and British Transport Police issue further warning in East Midlands as new images show children dicing with death at level crossing 1-2

Tuesday 7 Aug 2018

Network Rail and British Transport Police issue further warning in East Midlands as new images show children dicing with death at level crossing

Region & Route:
| Eastern

Network Rail and the British Transport Police are urging people to stay safe at level crossings after new images show children sitting, lying down and playing on a level crossing in Wing, Rutland.

The shocking images come just over a month after Network Rail issued a warning of the dangers of messing around on level crossings after CCTV footage showed people taking selfies at Matlock Bath level crossing.

With the summer school holidays in full swing, Network Rail and British Transport Police are urging parents to speak to their children about the dangers of playing on level crossings and make sure they know how to stay safe near and on the railway.

Vicki Beadle, Community Safety Manager at Network Rail, said: “This latest incident of misuse shows a complete disregard for safety. Level crossings are there to keep you safe and we cannot stress enough the danger children are putting themselves in when they choose to misuse a level crossing.

“A split second decision can have life changing consequences, not only for those involved, but also for their family and friends and railway workers. The railway is not a playground and we would urge parents to speak to their children about how to keep safe at level crossings, stations and when using the railway.

“Trains travel on this line at speeds of up to 60mph and would have devastating and long lasting consequences for anyone who gets in their way. All users of level crossings should take care when using them and follow all of the warnings and instructions.”

British Transport Police Inspector Jacqueline Wilson said: “There are numerous dangers on the railway track, we can’t stress enough the risk you are taking when you step on to the line. We need to work together with local communities, schools, families, parents to make sure our children understand the severity of what they are doing - it can take a matter of seconds for a life to be destroyed.”

While Britain still has the safest rail network in Europe, level crossings are one of the biggest public safety risks on the railway. In the last five years there have been more than 2,000 incidents on level crossings involving young people. Since the incident, Network Rail and British Transport Police have installed new warning posters nearby and is carrying out a review of the crossing.

Anyone wishing to find out more information about how to use level crossing safely, should visit https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/safety-in-the-community/level-crossing-safety/

Contact information

Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41

Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries

Journalists
Network Rail press office - Amy Brenndorfer
Senior Communications Manager
07858375508
07730359569
Amy.Brenndorfer@networkrail.co.uk

About Network Rail

We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.

Usually, there are almost five million journeys made in the UK and over 600 freight trains run on the network. People depend on Britain's railway for their daily commute, to visit friends and loved ones and to get them home safe every day. Our role is to deliver a safe and reliable railway, so we carefully manage and deliver thousands of projects every year that form part of the multi-billion pound Railway Upgrade Plan, to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years.

Follow us on Twitter: @networkrail
Visit our online newsroom: www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk