Heart-stopping footage shows the moment a pedestrian was just two seconds away from being hit by a speeding train after recklessly walking across the tracks. Two women were caught on shocking CCTV wandering over the level crossing moments before an oncoming train thundered past.
They had climbed around fencing to avoid the locked gates - before one of them was forced to jump back to avoid the passing locomotive by inches. The terrifying near-miss was captured in Elsenham , Essex, at the same crossing where two teenagers were killed by a train in December 2005.
Olivia Bazlinton, 14, and Charlotte Thompson, 13, lost their lives after being struck by a 70mph express train after going Christmas shopping. Tina Hughes, Olivia's mum, said she was "shocked" when she saw the video which has now been released by Network Rail.
She said: "I was shocked when I saw the video but I hope it will help to prevent others gambling with their lives in future. After all the improvements that have been made to this level crossing and so many others after Olivia and Charlotte’s deaths, it is hard to believe that people would ignore the safety measures and warnings.
"I urge everyone to read instructions carefully and always respect locked gates, barriers, lights and alarms.”
Network Rail said there had been 20 accidental fatalities at level crossings around the country since April 2019, with six of them in Anglia. Across the Anglia region, there have already been 42 near-misses in 2023.
Suzanne Renton, Network Rail Anglia’s head of safety, said: “Our teams across Anglia were out and about yesterday speaking with passengers and members of the public about sticking to the rules on level crossings.
"The women in the CCTV video came to no harm thankfully, but it clearly shows how taking a risk on the railway could easily end in death or serious injury.”
Network Rail was fined £1 million in 2012 after admitting health and safety breaches in connection with Olivia and Charlotte’s deaths. An investigation found an automatic locking system at the crossing had failed as the girls crossed the platform.
Network Rail said it had since appointed more than 100 level crossing managers to manage and improve the safety of crossings. At Elsenham level crossing, a footbridge has been built, the gates are now locked shut when a train is coming and there are ticket machines on both platforms.
