Footage has been released by Network Rail showing children playing on railway lines in Worcestershire.
Network Rail are urging parents to make sure that their children are aware of the dangers of the railway and that they should not be trespassing on the tracks.
The footage released shows children playing and loitering on the crossing at Jamaica Road in Malvern.
Trains travel along this stretch of line between Hereford and Worcester at up to 70mph.
With over 70 trains a day using the crossing the children are risking their lives.
Ten incidents at the crossing were caught on cameras in just nine days.
Network Rail’s You Vs Train campaign highlights the dangers of playing on the railway and more information about the campaign can be found on the Network Rail website here.
Rhys Evans, level crossing manager at Network Rail, said: “The footage we’ve captured at Jamaica Road is concerning and shows that local children still aren’t aware of the potential dangers of trespassing on the railway – despite our hard work to educate the local community on level crossing safety.
“Our message to parents and guardians is to please warn your children that the railway is not a place to play. It’s absolutely vital that everybody remains vigilant when crossing the railway as trains are fast, frequent, and quieter than ever.”
Francis Thomas, from West Midlands Railway, said: “Railways are not playgrounds. Trains can not swerve, nor can they pull-up suddenly. If you are not on a train or in a station – quite simply, you shouldn’t be on the railway.”
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Responses
Do children not think about how dangerous railways are. I blame the parents for not giving their kids enough education about the dangers.
I remember my first holiday in Austria many years ago, and saw that there were no fences adjoining the permanent way, and that anyone could walk across the line. It’s clear to me that either there is either a media campaign aimed at young children to keep them away from the tracks, or that the law takes the attitude of “Volenti non fit injuria” towards those willing to run the risk of injury or death.