Dicing with death at Bellambi

CCTV footage shows a school students dashes ignores lights and gates and dashes across the Bellambi rail level crossing seconds before a freight train thunders through.

BELLAMBI and Woonona rail line pedestrian crossings have recorded the most near misses for accidents in NSW in 2016.

Shocking CCTV footage shows students dicing with death by ignoring warning lights and gates at the Bellambi crossing, and darting in front of a freight train.

Sydney Trains Chief Executive Howard Collins said the more than 160 near misses across the NSW rail network in 2016 were because people ignored stop signs, walked around safety barriers, or ran in front of oncoming trains.

“Don’t put your life in danger because you are running late to catch your train. Plan ahead and allow yourself plenty of time to make the service,” Mr Collins said.

The Police Transport Command have been working closely with Sydney Trains to warn customers of the dangers and issued 68 on-the-spot fines last year for various offences at level crossings

“Officers regularly patrol stations with pedestrian rail crossings and are alarmed at the number of customers who ignore the safety controls to make their trains,” Mr Collins said.

“The barriers and controls are there to safeguard customers, not to stop them from making their trains.”