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An impatient jogger and cyclist were just moments from being killed when they ignored red lights and made their way over a level crossing as a speeding train approached.
The pair put their lives in great danger on the Whitehall crossing in Canterbury, near Hambrook Marshes.
The near-miss is caught on camera
Network Rail has released CCTV footage of the near-miss in a bid to warn pedestrians of the dangers of ignoring the red lights.
In the video, a train passes through the crossing just seconds before the pair arrive at the barriers.
But despite the signals remaining red, the cyclist dismounts, opens the gate for the jogger, and then jumps back into the saddle before they both rush across.
Moments later a second Southeastern train hurtles through, with the driver forced to make an emergency stop and report the incident after narrowly missing the pair.
Network Rail's head of route quality health safety & environment, Vincent van der Hoeven, said: “It’s really important to remember that when one train passes, another one may be coming the other way.
"In this case the jogger and cyclist had a red light to warn them, and they still walked out in front of a train.
“This adult pair’s behaviour, apparently putting their desire not to interrupt their exercise to cross the railway safely, nearly cost them their lives and is a clear example of how you put your life at risk as soon as you ignore the red light warning at level crossings.”
The incident took place at the end of last month.
As well as to warn people of the dangers to their lives, the CCTV has been released to remind them that their actions can put the welfare of passengers at risk too.
Jim Maxwell, head of drivers for Southeastern, said: “Our drivers are critical workers delivering a very important service, and don’t deserve the extra stress that these types of incidents cause.
“Reckless trespass incidents like this can have a profound effect on our drivers’ mental health and wellbeing, and I fully support our colleagues at Network Rail and the British Transport Police in trying to identify and pursue the culprits.”
