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Breakneck moment 70mph train misses careless pedestrian by just INCHES as he walks down the tracks without even looking
- The man ignored the red crossing warning light indicating that it was unsafe to cross
- The London Euston to Glasgow train was forced to make an emergency stop
Heartwarming footage shows the moment a pedestrian came just inches from being hit by a 70mph train as he carelessly walked down the tracks.
The alarming video was captured by cameras on board the train and shows the man casually walking across the crossing in Runcorn, Cheshire.
The train, which was the London Euston to Glasgow service, was forced to make an emergency stop to avoid hitting the pedestrian.
According to Network Rail, the maximum speed for trains on this section of the line is 125 mph.
The crossing displays a red warning light when it is unsafe to cross, which the man ignored.
The alarming video was captured by cameras on board the train and shows the man casually walking across the crossing in Runcorn.
A mere matter of seconds could have led to tragedy for the careless pedestrian who missed the train by inches.
Lucy Jordan, director of security for Network Rail North West, said the January 18 incident could have “led to a tragedy”.
She said: ‘When I see images like this, my heart always stops.
“The difference of just a few seconds could have led to tragedy for this man and I cannot minimize the danger he was in.”
‘It is important that Network Rail share this video as a strong warning to others and to remind them of our level crossing rules.
“No matter how well you think you know a junction, all users must obey the signage in place and if there are warning lights, always stop when they show red, it’s just not worth the risk.”
Dave Whitehouse, Avanti West Coast’s director of safety and security, said the footage is a “clear reminder” to be “aware of your surroundings near train tracks.”
He said: ‘These images serve as a stark reminder to be aware of your surroundings near railway tracks, whether at a level crossing or in a station.
“Although the man involved escaped serious injury, this shows that it only takes a split second to make the wrong decision for it to end in tragedy.”
The crossing displays a red warning light when it is not safe to cross, which the man ignored
The train, which was the London Euston to Glasgow service, was forced to make an emergency stop to avoid hitting the pedestrian.