Rail line trespassers in Sittingbourne have been caught on camera lying on the train tracks and taking photographs.

Network Rail has released alarming footage of youngsters and a photographer taking to the rails at Simpson's Foot Crossing as they announce plans to crack down on trespassers.

The footage released by Network Rail comes as it rolls out geo-targeting technology to prevent similar future near misses.

To help combat the issue of distraction at level crossings, Network Rail and British Transport Police are introducing geo-targeting at a number of level crossings where phone distraction has been flagged as high risk.

“Many young people simply don’t think about the dangers of the railway and parents will know how difficult it is to drag their kids away from their phones or other tech" - Nicola Dooris (Network Rail)

The system will alert people using their phones near level crossings to put them away.

The video from Sittingbourne shows people lying down on rail tracks.

They walk across the rails and even take photographs.

The young people in the footage were identified and the dangers of their actions explained to them by Network Rail community safety manager Nicola Dooris.

She said: “Many young people simply don’t think about the dangers of the railway and parents will know how difficult it is to drag their kids away from their phones or other tech.

“Those two factors together mean that we have a constant battle to get through to children to help them stay out of danger. Anything parents can do to help us could make all the difference.”

VIDEO: The teenagers were seen on the train tracks

New data has revealed that 70% of near misses are due to distraction, with the top three distractions at level crossings highlighted as friends (4%), headphones (20%) and mobile phones (12%).

Almost a third (29%) of young adults admit to using their mobile phone while crossing the railway. A huge 95% of under 25 year olds report owning a smart phone and spend twice the amount of time on their mobile than the average user.

While Britain still has the safest rail network in Europe, level crossings are one of the biggest public safety risks on the railway.

In the last five years there have been more than 2,000 incidents on level crossings.

Inspector Becky Warren from British Transport Police (BTP) said: “Level crossings are there to help people cross the railway when it is safe to do so but pedestrians need to pay full attention when they use them.

“Sadly, our officers know the tragedy families are faced with after a loved one is killed at a level crossing. A moment of distraction, be that checking a text or changing a song, can leave devastation and heartbreak for families.

“We regularly conduct operations at level crossings and run events across the country in conjunction with our partners in Network Rail to raise awareness on how to use crossings safely.”

Network Rail’s army of over 100 level crossing and community safety managers will also be raising awareness of rail safety right across the rail network by holding safety events and encouraging young people to stay alert when on the rail network.