‘Unthinkably stupid’: Woman filmed lying across railway tracks in East Sussex

‘A split-second decision can have life-changing consequences’, warns Network Rail

Authorities are pleading with the public to stop "dangerous behaviour" at level crossings after a woman was captured on film lying down on railway tracks in southeast England earlier this week.

CCTV footage shows a woman dressed in a bright orange jacket recording a second woman, wearing a blue coat, sprawled across a railway track in East Sussex on Monday.

Video shows the pair hanging around by the tracks for around 50 seconds shortly before 11.30 am. The stunt at a crossing – where trains pass through at up to 70mph – has been branded "unthinkably stupid" by police.

The incident at Tidemills level crossing near Seaford is the latest instance of dangerous behaviour on the railway which could have ended with fatal or life-changing consequences, according to Network Rail.

It is the 17th incident at this crossing in the last nine months, with 15 recorded near misses, according to the network. During the whole of 2019, there were four recorded incidents, with three recorded near misses.

Tracy Partridge, East Sussex level crossing manager at Network Rail, said: "We are concerned about repeated dangerous behaviour at Tidemills level crossing which follows the near misses which took place last year.

"We cannot stress enough the danger that people are placing themselves in when they don't use a crossing safely.

“A split-second decision can have life-changing consequences, not only for those involved but also for their family and friends, train drivers and railway workers.”

She added: "Please, never take chances when using level crossings and if you have any concerns, always contact Network Rail or British Transport Police."

The warning comes days after a similar incident took place in Bolton, where a member of the public parked their car on a level crossing.

They filmed the stunt and posted it on the social media app TikTok, with a message reading: "Would you take the risk to get the shot no-one else would?"

Insp Becky Warren, from British Transport Police, said: "No picture or video is worth risking your life for."

Network Rail said they were working with the Transport Police to investigate the "staggeringly stupid and dangerous" stunt.

"Never trespass onto the tracks – it’s against the law and puts lives at risk," it said in a tweet.

Additional reporting by Press Association