With the number of accidental deaths on Britain’s railway network increasing by 26% compared with last year, Network Rail and British Transport Police have released two hard-hitting safety films where first responders share the devastating physical and emotional impact of railway accidents.

The campaign, timed to coincide with the summer holidays, is targeted at the unsafe behaviour around tracks and level crossings.

Last year, 24 people were killed in preventable accidents on the railway, a five-year high, with five people losing their lives at level crossings and the other 19 because they crossed the railway at unauthorised locations.

The new safety films, made with the help of the emergency services and the film industry, show the real consequences of unsafe behaviour through the experiences of those who witness the aftermath, and are designed to create a powerful emotional impact.

One film looks at the emotional impact on families after their loved ones have been badly injured on the railway.

In the second film, an NHS trauma specialist explains the catastrophic injuries caused when a person gets hit by a train.

Last year, pedestrians were involved in 457 near misses with trains at level crossings, with distraction by mobile phones a probable contributory factor in some of those events.

Besides risking their lives, safety incidents have a serious impact on train performance. Last year, train services were delayed by over a million minutes because of people straying onto railway lines.

Misbehaviour around level crossings often impacts a large number of people, such as in April this year when Network Rail was forced to close a level crossing in West Sussex.

More information about keeping safe on the railway and the new films is online at https://www.youvstrain.co.uk

“Every year, my emergency services colleagues and I are faced with the awful consequences of preventable railway accidents. And we don’t just respond, we remember too. Behind every statistic is a real person – a life needlessly lost or irreversibly changed, and a family left devastated.

“The number of near misses is a stark reminder about why this campaign is so vital. These films are grounded in real-life experiences and show the terrible impact of a moment’s distraction or misjudgement.”

“As the summer holidays begin and more people are out and about, including teenagers and younger children, we’re asking everyone to treat the railway with the seriousness and respect it demands; stay alert, avoid distractions, and never cross except at designated points. It could save your life, or someone else’s.

“I’d encourage people to save 61016 into their phones and text us if they need us. In an emergency, always dial 999.”

Chief Inspector Adam Swallow, British Transport Police