BTP safety chiefs say a man who was caught on camera jumping a level crossing as a train approached at high speed, is lucky to have escaped unharmed.
The unidentified male, believed to be in his early thirties, was captured on video jumping over the barriers at the Duke Street crossing shortly after 9pm on April 4.
The man is clearly shown approaching the crossing then looking both ways before jumping the barriers – which had just been lowered – and making his way across the live track seconds before a train traveling from Birkdale approached. Warning lights and sirens were completely ignored by the man.
British Transport Police are now analysing video footage of the incident.
A spokesperson for BTP said: “There is simply no excuse for jumping over a barrier at a level crossing.
“The risks this man took are extreme; a slight trip or fall and an approaching train could have claimed his life. Incredibly some people are still putting their lives at risk at level crossings by ignoring warning lights and sirens and trying to dash through when trains are approaching.
This is hugely irresponsible and dangerous, please obey the warnings and be patient.”
More than 8,000 people risked their lives trespassing on railways last year with 115 fatalities recorded in the last five years alone.
The figures have dramatically increased by 11% on 2015, the highest since 2007.
Network Rail’s head of public and passenger safety, Allan Spence, said: “Every April we see a huge rise in the number of people taking a risk on the rail network and it’s worrying that these numbers seem to be going up.
“Britain has the safest railway in Europe but still too many people lose their lives on the tracks.
“The dangers may not always be obvious but the electricity on the railway is always on and trains can travel up to 125mph, so even if they see you, they can’t stop in time.”
If you have any information relating to the incident or may know the person involved, call British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40.
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