Network Rail’s Summer Safety Campaign for Level CrossingsNetwork Rail’s Summer Safety Campaign for Level Crossings Key Points: * Network Rail reminds parents and children about the dangers of level crossing misuse during the summer holidays. * CCTV footage reveals reckless behavior and near-misses involving trains. * 194 misuse incidents and 29 near misses recorded at level crossings on Network Rail’s Sussex route in the past year. Summer Safety Campaign: * Network Rail launches the “Distracted? You’ve Crossed the Line” campaign to educate young adults about level crossing safety. * The campaign focuses on distractions such as taking selfies, listening to music, or using phones. Hotspot Locations for Level Crossing Abuse: * Bewbush (Crawley): 12 incidents * Crawley High Street: 9 incidents * One O’Clock (Burgess Hill): 9 incidents * Worthing: 7 incidents * Clappers Lane (Ferring): 6 incidents * Bourneview (Kenley/Whyteleafe): 4 incidents Safety Recommendations: * Stay vigilant: Always be aware of your surroundings when crossing railways. * Look and listen: Check both ways before stepping onto the tracks. * Avoid distractions: Put away phones and other devices that can distract you. * Obey warning signals: Never cross when lights are flashing or barriers are down. Quotes from Network Rail Officials: * Sam Pead, Southern Region Level Crossing Manager: “It’s vital to remember that some dangers on the tracks aren’t always visible… It is frustrating that we still see people risking their lives.” * Nick Turner, Sussex Community Safety Manager: “We work hard with partners to raise awareness of the dangers of level crossing misuse… It is absolutely vital to respect the railway and use crossings sensibly.” Additional Information: * Interviews with Network Rail officials are available. * National statistics show a decrease in near misses involving pedestrians at level crossings (30% decrease this year). * However, incidents involving dogs and their owners have increased post-COVID. About Network Rail: Network Rail is responsible for maintaining and managing the rail network in England, Wales, and Scotland. Its mission includes promoting safety and preventing incidents at level crossings.
Network Rail has issued the following press release regarding the dangers of incorrect use of level crossings:
- Network Rail is reminding parents and children to remain vigilant around the railway as incidents of level crossing misuse increase during the summer holidays
- Never-before-seen CCTV footage shows reckless behaviour and near-misses involving trains
- 194 incidents of misuse and 29 near misses recorded at level crossings on Network Rail’s Sussex route in the past year, with hotspot locations revealed
To mark the start of the summer holidays, Network Rail is reminding children and their parents of the dangers of incorrectly using level crossings with a new safety campaign.
Latest figures show that there were 194 incidents of misuse and 29 near misses at level crossings on Network Rail’s Sussex route in the last financial year (2023/24). While this represents a 15% decrease in misuse incidents and a 3% decrease in near misses compared to the previous year*, safety remains our top priority, as even one near miss is too many.
In Sussex the hotspots for level crossing abuse are:
- Bewbush (on the edge of Crawley) = 12 incidents
- Crawley High Street = 9 incidents
- One hour (in Burgess Hill) = 9 incidents
- Worthing = 7 incidents
- Clappers Lane (in Ferring, between Angmering and Goring-by-Sea) = 6 incidents
- Bourneview (near Kenley and Whyteleafe) = 4 incidents
More broadly, long-term trends (since 2017) across Network Rail’s Southern Region, which serves rail and freight operators from Devon in the west to Kent in the east across the south of England, show that incidents involving level crossing abuse have fallen by 15%, but near misses have increased by 31%.
Safety Campaign ‘Distracted? You’ve Crossed the Line’
Network Rail has also launched the ‘Distracted? You’ve Crossed the Line’ safety campaign, which aims to positively encourage young adults (18-34) to take responsibility for their own personal safety and illustrates distractions such as taking selfies, listening to music or looking at a phone when using a level crossing.
Sam Pead, Network Rail’s Southern Region Level Crossing Manager, said: “While our rail network is among the safest in Europe, it is vital that people are aware of the dangers and potential consequences of incorrect use of level crossings.
“It’s important to remember that some of the dangers on the tracks aren’t always visible. In the Southern Region, trains can travel at high speeds, up to 140 mph, and they’re largely powered by the third rail, which carries more than enough electricity to kill or seriously injure and is always on.
“It is frustrating that we still see people recklessly risking their lives when crossing the railway tracks.
“We work extremely hard with our partners to educate people about the dangers of the railway and as the summer holidays begin, we urge children and their parents to respect the railway, stay safe and remain vigilant when crossing the railway.”
Nick Turner, Network Rail’s community safety manager on the Sussex route, added: “We are working incredibly hard, along with our partners Govia Thameslink Railway and British Transport Police, to raise awareness of the dangers of trespassing and misusing level crossings.
“We regularly work with local schools and the community through high risk level and pedestrian crossing events, station pop-up events and school talks with the primary aim of educating the public and improving safety for all who regularly use these crossings and the railway.”
Samantha Facey, Director of Safety, Health and Security at Govia Thameslink Railway, said: “We want people to be safe, feel safe and travel safely. We cannot stress enough how important it is to understand how dangerous level crossings can be if they are not used properly. People can easily be seriously injured or even killed, and too many families have already been tragically affected. It is absolutely vital that the rail industry works together to get the safety message across: please respect the railway and use these level crossings sensibly.”
A British Transport Police (BTP) spokesman said: “Sadly, too often we have seen the tragic and life-changing consequences of people ignoring danger warnings when they are near the railway. Sadly, some children find the railway tracks tempting places to play and fail to realise how dangerous the tracks can be.
“BTP is working with Network Rail to educate children and students in schools about the dangers of driving near tracks and to share some of the devastating real life stories from You vs Train, such as Harrison’s story.
“Passengers and the public are still our eyes and ears and they can help us by reporting concerns or incidents by texting us on 61016 or calling 0800 405040.”
Notes to Editors
Interviews with Network Rail’s Southern region level crossing manager are available. Contact Rob Breckon.
*In the 2022/23 financial year, there were 228 incidents involving people misusing a level crossing and 30 near misses on Network Rail’s Sussex route.
Three of the level crossings with the highest number of near misses were also reported: Clappers Lane (5), One O’Clock (4) and Bourneview (2).
Another trend seen in the south of England post-Covid is an increase in incidents involving dogs and their owners at footpath level crossings, often associated with dogs being poorly trained or off-lead. Network Rail is working with the RSPCA to inform pet owners and the dog walking community.
The national image
Britain has one of the safest rail networks in Europe, but level crossings pose one of the greatest risks to public safety on the railways. There have been 117 near misses involving pedestrians at level crossings so far this year – a 30% decrease on the number of incidents recorded at the same point last year.
There are almost 6,000 level crossings on the rail network in England, Wales and Scotland and the only way to eliminate the risk completely is to close level crossings. Since 2009, 1,300 level crossings have been closed. However, closing level crossings is not always a realistic option as they play an important role in safely crossing the railway.
To improve safety and reduce the number of incidents at level crossings, Network Rail is modernising many of its level crossings by closing them completely, building bridges, identifying safer rights of way, installing new barriers and warning systems or adding new signage. Network Rail is working closely with partners such as the British Transport Police (BTP) and train companies, as well as schools and the local community, to raise awareness of the dangers of trespassing and misusing level crossings and to educate people on how to cross the railway safely.
