Nine selfies in one day at rural level crossing spark police warning

PEOPLE HAVE been warned not to take selfies on train tracks after eight dangerous incidents were captured by CCTV at one level crossing in Derbyshire in a single day.

Video footage from Matlock Bath station shows adults and children posing for pictures, sitting on the track and conducting phone conversations while walking along the line.

Network Rail (NR) has urged people to pay more respect to the railway.

NR operations risk adviser, Martin Brown, said: “Level crossings in rural, picturesque settings such as Matlock may look like good opportunities for a photo but the railway is not a playground. Trains can come from either direction at any time and being distracted by chatting, texting or taking photographs while using the crossing significantly increases the risk of an incident.”

More than 30 trains and 500 pedestrians and cyclists go through the Matlock Bath crossing each day.

Inspector Eddie Carlin, of British Transport Police (BTP), said: “The photos captured are extremely worrying. We are really concerned someone is going to get seriously injured or killed at the crossing.

“Trespassing on the railway is extremely dangerous and can have tragic consequences for those involved.

“I have had to tell devastated families that their loved ones are not coming home due to incidents such as this and it’s heartbreaking. The railway is a dangerous environment.”

He added: “Trains travel at speed and can be silent and if people are trespassing on the tracks and are distracted taking photos, selfies or texting they really are putting themselves in danger.”