A railway crossing in Yorkshire has been shut down after teenagers were caught taking selfies on the tracks, putting lives at risk.
Network Rail applied for an emergency closure of the Wilthorpe footpath crossing near Barnsley following 15 dangerous incidents recorded in just eight weeks.
The closure order was granted by Barnsley Council on Thursday after footage revealed shocking behaviour including young people lying down on live tracks to pose for photographs.
Network Rail described the incidents as "truly shocking" with both youths and adults repeatedly risking their lives at the crossing.
People were seen lying down on the floor of the crossing
Network Rail
Footage released by Network Rail showed people holding gates shut to trap others on the railway line, preventing them from leaving the tracks.
Other clips captured individuals placing ballast on the rails and crossing while trains were approaching or after automated warnings had sounded.
In one particularly dangerous incident, people were filmed lying down on the tracks to pose for photographs, where trains can pass at speeds of up to 60 mph. The crossing has limited visibility of approaching trains, making these behaviours especially hazardous.
Network Rail said this was the worst case of level crossing misuse they had encountered.
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The Wilthorpe footpath near Barnsley
Network Rail
Andy Cunningham, route level crossing manager at Network Rail, said: "The footage from Wilthorpe is truly shocking and the worst I've seen for misuse and disregard for level crossing safety. People are repeatedly risking their own and other people's lives."
He added that the crossing has limited sighting of approaching trains, saying: "We're fortunate not to have had a fatality."
Cunningham described the behaviour as the most severe he had encountered, with the decision to close the popular walking route not taken lightly given its frequent use by local residents.
"But, given the evidence and the severity of the situation, we believe that closing the crossing is the most responsible course of action to prevent any potential accidents or injuries," Cunningham continued.
The emergency closure will remain in place for three weeks, after which Network Rail plans to apply for a six-month temporary traffic regulation order. According to Network Rail, there are approximately 6,000 level crossings across the rail network.
The operator believes the most effective way to reduce level crossing risk is to "completely eliminate risk and close the crossing".
Network Rail acknowledged that the closure may disrupt daily routines for local residents who use the crossing regularly.
"We understand that this decision may disrupt daily routines, and we're sorry for any inconvenience caused, but the safety of the public is our top priority," said Cunningham.
The rail operator's application for emergency closure came after recording what they described as a "shocking disregard for safety" over the past two months.
