Police issue safety warning to Lincoln students after a young man was nearly hit by a train

University of Lincoln students have been given railway safety sessions after CCTV footage showed a man jumping over the down barriers on the High Street’s railway line just before a train came past.

The footage shows a young man staggering across the live railway tracks during Lincoln Freshers’ Week.  A few seconds later a freight train came past at a high speed whilst the man was still standing between the barriers but thankfully the individual was left unharmed.

Now Network Rail, the British Transport Police and East Midlands Railway have come together to try to help students understand the dangers of being out at night after drinking alcohol. The sessions were done as part of the “staying safe on a night out” week at the university.

via SWNS

The sessions were delivered using virtual reality headsets and tips were given out to remind students about using level crossings safely.

Community Safety Manager for Network Rail, Elisha Allen said: “This behaviour is incredibly dangerous and deeply concerning. The individual involved recklessly risked their life to stumble just a few metres further forward.

“People need to be well aware of the dangers, pay attention to the unmissable alarms, and remain incredibly vigilant when crossing the tracks, particularly while under the influence.”

via SWNS

Elisha Allen went on to say: “We’ve worked with our rail industry partners to deliver a hard-hitting lesson for new students at the University of Lincoln and help more people understand how to stay safe around the railway.”

British Transport Police Chief Inspector, Ricky Sweeney, urged people to be sensible when the tracks are in use. He said: “The railway is no place to take a shortcut. Getting somewhere a little quicker is not worth the risk, and we have seen first-hand that this can lead to tragic consequences or life-changing injuries – both outcomes are avoidable.

“There is simply no excuse for not following the safety procedures at level crossings. Trains travel at speeds of up to 125mph, sitting wider than the tracks they run on and often quieter than expected.”

Featured images via SWNS 

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