Media centre

Wednesday 12 Oct 2022

Nottinghamshire residents invited to safety event after troubling CCTV footage emerges

Region & Route:

Eastern

| Eastern: East Midlands

A community in Nottinghamshire are being invited to a safety session after Network Rail has seen a rise in reckless behaviour at a popular level crossing.

Over recent months, people have been spotted dangerously leaving toddlers unattended, trespassing, and leaving dogs off their lead at Chestnut Grove level crossing in Burton Joyce. The busy footpath crosses the Nottingham to Lincoln line, which sees around 70 trains travel through each day at tremendous speeds.

Network Rail, with support from East Midlands Railway, Nottingham County Council and Burton Joyce Parish Council, will be running a hard-hitting session to engage with the community and hammer home the top tips for staying safe around the railway, including:

• Concentrate – it’s easy to get distracted, especially by phones, music and conversation.
• Stop, look and listen. Follow signs and instructions.
• Check both ways before crossing – if there is a train coming, don’t cross.
• Cross quickly, keeping children close and dogs on a lead.

The three-hour educational session will be held in a marquee at the Nelson Pub in Burton Joyce on Saturday 15 October, between 10:00 and 13:00.

Anna Ebblewhite, Level Crossing Manager for Network Rail, said: “We’ve seen some incredibly worrying behaviour at Burton Joyce level crossing, which shows just how unaware some residents are of how dangerous the railway can be.

“That’s why we’re delivering this interactive session to help residents understand how to use the crossing safely, and ultimately improve safety amongst the community. I really hope that people join us this Saturday - we’ll have experts on hand to answer your questions.”

Laurence King, Chair of Burton Joyce Parish Council said: “This is a very important issue for residents and visitors to the village. We are looking to work with Network Rail and others to understand the causes, improve public education, safety signage and infrastructure improvements, to significantly reduce the potential for unsafe behaviour and the consequent effect on rail staff and network operation”.

Cllr Mike Adams of Gedling Borough Council said: “Living in the village and using the railway crossings regularly for family walks by the river, we recognise its importance to our village.

“The risks being taken currently by some, while crossing the railway are frightening to see on the replays from the cameras on site. We risk losing this incredible asset if we don’t get better at using it.

“Please come along to the education day and help us all learn how to better protect the residents we all care about.”

Visit Level crossings for pedestrians - Network Rail for more information and resources.

For further details about the event, please contact the Network Rail Helpline via Contact us - Network Rail.

ENDS