CCTV shows women seconds away from being hit by train at Elsenham level crossing in Anglia

A safety warning has been issued after CCTV captured the moment two women were almost hit by a train after they climbed onto a level crossing.

Network Rail released the shocking video on Thursday, at a safety event alongside Tina Hughes, whose daughter died at Elsenham level crossing in 2005.

The video, captured at the same crossing in April 2023, shows two people taking the huge risk which could have cost them their lives.

It shows the pair waiting at the barriers for a short amount of time, before deciding to climb over it off camera.

The first woman then runs across the tracks, and the second woman backs up against the barriers just seconds before a high-speed train zooms past.

There have been 20 accidental fatalities at level crossings across the UK since April 2019, with six of them in the Anglia region.

Ms Hughes, who lost her daughter Olivia and Olivia’s friend Charlotte, has worked with Network Rail for many years, with the deaths leading to a transformation in the firm’s approach to level crossing safety.

Speaking of the CCTV footage, 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.”

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.”