Dad caught on CCTV letting young children play on live train tracks

Footage of a dad letting two young children play on live train tracks has been released as a warning to others.

The CCTV video, released by Network Rail, shows the dad standing in the middle of a crossing with two girls – one who looks like a toddler and another a few years older – for around a minute and a half.

He can be seen looking at his phone, even after his daughter says ‘a train is coming’.

The video, filmed on April 3, is part of a compilation featuring CCTV footage of people dicing with death at different crossings in Worcestershire and the West Midlands.

In one worrying clip from the day after, a teenager is caught doing one-armed press-ups in the middle of a crossing while loud music plays in the background.

Three days earlier, a dog walker is seen encouraging their two dogs to sit on the tracks while someone else takes photo of them.

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In another clip from May 18, a primary school-aged boy on a scooter is shown running in front of an oncoming train which thunders by seven seconds later.

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Other children were caught on camera putting ballast stones on the tracks for the trains to run over.

Network Rail said the six different incidents included in the film are just a handful of examples of dangerous behaviour.

Almost 50 concerning cases have been reported by train drivers or caught on hidden cameras in Worcestershire and the West Midlands this year.

Alexandra France, Network Rail Level crossing safety manager, said: ‘In so many of the incidents filmed, the difference of just a few seconds could have led to tragedy for those involved.

‘I can’t downplay the danger they were in – with serious injury or worse a huge possibility.

‘No matter how well you think you know a crossing, all users must obey the rules around using level crossings every time they use it. It just really isn’t worth the risk.’

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