A group of teenagers have been condemned by authorities as “unimaginably foolish” after they were seen behaving recklessly at a Dundee railway crossing.
Four youths, all in their mid-teens, swung on the barriers of the Camperdown level crossing before running across the railway line after the barriers came down.
Trains going over the crossing can be travelling at speeds of up to 70mph.
The incident, which was witnessed via remote camera by a signalling officer in Dundee station, was condemned by Network Rail and the British Transport police.
Constable David McDonagh of British Transport Police, Dundee, said: “The actions of these youths were unimaginably foolish and I cannot stress how dangerous this was. BTP and Network Rail have only recently stressed the real dangers posed by the rail network.”
There have been three to four related incidents over the past month, although this is the first such incident at the Camperdown crossing.
Located just off East Dock Street, the crossing is not in an area where you would not normally expect to find children, PC McDonagh added.
“This was a really stupid thing to do and our chief concern is making sure it never happens again,” he went on.
A Network Rail spokesman said: “Trespassing on the rail network is dangerous as well as illegal and can have tragic consequences for all those involved.
“Interfering with the safe operation of level crossings seriously endangers their safety and the safety of those working for, and travelling on, the railway, as well as people travelling by road.”
Fifty people across the UK were killed after trespassing on the railway in 2011, and there were over 400 near misses.
Much of the railway trespassing and vandalism is done by eight to 16-year-old boys but children as young as five have been found playing on the tracks.
Adults also often cut across the railway as a shortcut.
“Trains travelling at speed take a long time to stop and anyone struck by one is likely to be killed or very seriously injured,” the Network Rail spokesman said.
“Where the lines are electrified, there are 25,000 volts passing through overhead power lines enough to kill. Trespassers don’t even need to touch the cables to be electrocuted as electricity can jump from the cables to nearby objects,” he added.
The teenagers were all said to be wearing casual clothing at the time of the incident at around 9pm on Wednesday last week.
Anyone with information regarding the identity of the youths should call the British Transport Police on 0800 405040. Witnesses can also speak anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.