Photoshoot on railway tracks and youths play ‘rooster’ with trains

Network Rail bosses have slammed reckless influencers and teenagers playing Russian roulette to take photoshoots and play ‘chicken’ on a live railway track.

A series of CCTV clips reveal people dicing with death on Chesnut Grove level crossing in Burton Joyce, Nottinghamshire. 

In one terrifying near-miss incident, a man can be seen taking pictures of a woman as she straddles a chair in the middle of he tracks.

The snapper can be seen putting one foot on the line while taking photos of the woman – who appears carefree- as she strikes several seductive poses.

In another, four youths are seen playing on the tracks in the dead of night, with one lying on the ground as they laugh and take pictures of him. 

The hair-raising scenes prompted rail chiefs to issue a warning of the lethal consequences their selfish behaviour could have. 

A female influencer straddled a chair placed in the middle of the railway tracks as her male companion took various photos of her

In one video captured on July 13 four youths are seen playing in the middle of the tracks at 12.25am

A dogwalker scrambled through a gate on the other side of the crossing moments before a high-speed train thundered past

Hayley Manners, Network Rail’s community safety manager in the East Midlands, said: ‘Every time someone strays on to the tracks, they are placing themselves at risk of serious, life-changing injury or worse.

‘The consequences can be devastating, not only for them, but their loved ones and the wider community.

‘Shutting the railway while we investigate reports of trespass also causes costly delays for rail passengers and freight.

‘We hope that sharing the CCTV will act as a deterrent and show that acting irresponsibly on the railway is extremely dangerous.’

Other clips show a woman coming one second away from being wiped out by a train as she walked her dog on the crossing on May 6 this year.

In the heart-stopping footage, the train driver repeatedly sounds the horn, moments before the woman scrambles through a gate.

Several other people were also caught on the covert cameras risking their lives by trying to out-run the passing trains.

Network Rail have released the videos to raise awareness about the lethal dangers of playing on the railway lines.

There were 2,755 incidents of trespassing recorded across the East Midlands in 2023-24, including 219 involving children.

It has done so to urge people to stay off the railway and not put others at risk during the school summer holidays.

Undeterred by the risk of oncoming trains, the woman struck several seductive poses astride the chair

One youth lay down on the tracks as friends took photos of them while another hurled stones down the line

Dozens of freight trains use the line to travel between Nottingham and Newark, often hitting speeds of 60mph

Network Rail have recently enforced an emergency six-month closure order on the crossing due to the level of incidents, in plans fiercely opposed by local residents.

Burton Joyce Parish Council has demanded ‘better and more considered solutions’ over the temporary closure, arguing the crossing is at the centre of the village and a public right of way.

‘It provides a vital access to a beautiful section of the River Trent which is a huge attraction for many people, not just from within the village but also from further afield,’ the council said in a statement on its website.

It added: ‘The Parish Council have held a number of meetings with Network Rail, but despite repeated requests for research and analysis on causes of incidents, and how they could be addressed and mitigated through well considered solutions, nothing substantive has been presented. 

‘Questions about the effectiveness of basic safety signage have been asked but not been answered. 

‘Without this evidence and an understanding of the impact a crossing closure would have, we do not believe it is convincing for us to accept closure of a basic right of way.

‘Pedestrian and train crew safety are paramount, but we need to be assured that all options have been explored before a closure is instigated.’

Parish councillor Jeanette Johnson, who lives in the village, told Nottinghamshire Live: ‘People in the village will have to pay the price for some lunatic behaviour. 

‘They’re using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

‘You’re always going to get people who flout measures. Taking a chair there and sitting on it isn’t a normal action from anyone. It doesn’t matter what measures you put in.

‘No one wants any fatalities but there needs to be much more discussion.

‘There’s no suitable signage at all there. We want an explanation as to why we can’t have more signage to stop people crossing when they shouldn’t do.’