Family run through closing level crossing in Barmouth

This is the moment of madness captured on video showing a family running across a railway track dodging the barriers as they are closing.

The shocking scene was captured on dashcam footage by a driving instructor who had stopped at the lights at Barmouth, North Wales, as a train was due to pass.

John Lewis said he was stunned to watch the man charge across the track – followed moments later by a woman and child.

Mr Lewis said: ‘I was heading to a lesson when I saw the man run across, narrowly dodging the barriers.

‘Seconds later a woman and with a child followed, I couldn’t believe it. Now as it happens Barmouth is one of the safer level crossings.

‘It is operated by the train driver and the train was stopped, so has to start up from a standing start. But even so, what sort of an example is that to give a young child?

‘And they could have been injured by the barriers, it is incredible and wholly irresponsible.’

Mr Lewis said there were around 20 seconds between the barriers coming down and the train shooting past.

Having crossed safely the three made their way to the platform where they caught the train to Pwllheli.

According to the ABC Railways Guide Barmouth South Level Crossing is rated as having a level 3 (very high) collective risk rating, making it one of the most dangerous.

The shocking scene was captured on dashcam footage by a driving instructor who had stopped at the lights at Barmouth, North Wales, as a train was due to pass

There were three fatalities on level crossings in 2015-16 across England and Wales – all were pedestrian users. This was eight fewer fatalities than in 2014-15.

There were a further 334 injures to members of the public – 263 of which were not suicide or suspected suicides. And according to Network Rail there were an additional 385 near misses at level crossings in 2015-16.