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Footage shows parents letting their toddlers play on live railway lines, young people doing one-armed press-ups, and dog walkers sitting their pets on the tracks for photos.
Network Rail has released a compilation of CCTV footage showing people “risking their lives” at footpath level crossings in Worcestershire.
Covert cameras captured six instances of “incredibly dangerous behaviour” at crossings.
The company said they were just a handful of examples out of nearly 50 cases of misuse either reported by train drivers or caught on hidden cameras.
In one clip, loud music plays while a teenager does one-armed press-ups in the middle of a crossing – and in another a horn sounds as two dog walkers rush across eight seconds before a high-speed train passes.
One video shows a dog walker encouraging two dogs to sit on the tracks while another takes photos of them.
Footage also shows a primary school aged boy on a scooter rushing over the crossing in front of an oncoming train that arrives seven seconds later.
A man with two little girls playing on the rails can be seen pointing out the “pretty hills” in the distance to them – they were caught on camera on the tracks for over 90 seconds.
In another incident, two boys can be seen placing ballast stones on the track so they are run over by trains.
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.”
Network Rail level crossing safety teams are now visiting the problem crossings to directly warn people of the dangers on the railway.
They will be handing out leaflets and explaining to passers-by people using footpath level crossings should: concentrate; stop, look and listen; check both ways before crossing; understand the warnings; and cross quickly, keeping children close and dogs on a lead.
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