Shocking CCTV footage shows near miss between dog walker and train

2022-08-17

Terrifying CCTV footage shows the moment brazen dog walker comes within seconds of death after darting in front of a train while crossing a railway line in Wales

Shocking CCTV footage shows near miss between walker and train in Wales
Train chugs along coastal vista near Harlech, Wales as dog walker darts out
Network Rail and Transport for Wales urge tourists and visitors to pay attention

This is the terrifying moment a dog walker and their beloved pet come within seconds of being struck down by a train.

Shocking CCTV footage captures the near miss between the rambler and the locomotive that was travelling near the rural market town of Machynlleth, Wales.

In the clip, the train is seen chugging along as the dog walker can be spotted darting out and over a crossing narrowly in front of the moving vehicle.

With summer holidays in full swing, Network Rail has issued a safety warning urging tourists and residents to not be complacent when using rail crossings following two separate incidents in Harlech last month.

Dogs are advised to be kept on leads, children kept as close as possible to guardians, all while adhering to the safety signs before stepping onto the track.

Train driver Mike Leonard, 54, later revealed his horror at a similar near miss that happened just weeks earlier at the Harlech Cliffs level crossing.

He said: ‘I saw two white things on the track, I thought they were sheep.

‘Then I realised they were dogs and suddenly this elderly man with a walking stick came up from the beach and just stepped out in front of the train too.

‘The dogs weren’t on a lead and the man didn’t even look as he crossed. I was about four seconds away from hitting him’.

This is the terrifying moment a dog walker and his beloved pet come within inches of being struck down by a train

Shocking CCTV footage captures the near miss between the rambler and the locomotive that was travelling near the rural market town of Machynlleth, Wales

During his 15-year career on the Cambrian Line, Mike has lost count of the number of times he has been forced to apply the emergency brake because of people not following the safety information on signs at level crossings.

‘In that moment you’re actually helpless’, said Mike.

‘You put the brake into emergency, you blow the horn, and it’s out of your hands. The train stops when it stops. You just watch everything unfolding in front of you. It’s like it all just slows down.

‘I have had around six instances I would call very bad near-misses, where people have been seconds away from being hit by the train.

‘One time involved two school children near Shrewsbury where one was dancing on the track, purposely misusing the level crossing – recklessly risking their life.’

There are around 300 different level crossings between Dovey Junction and Pwllheli alone – with more than 1,000 across the whole of Wales.

Mike is one of many rail industry workers who have had to take time off work after witnessing a near miss or fatality on the job and said incidents like this can be anxiety-inducing.

‘The impact of these incidents, especially fatalities of this kind, reach further than people think’, he added.

‘You sometimes go blank, and you keep on thinking about it – the “what ifs” really play on your mind. The more instances you have, it’s like you’ve had enough, it can be depressing.’

Phil Caldwell, Network Rail’s level crossing manager for Harlech, said: ‘This truly is a beautiful area to visit, and very popular with tourists, but railways are very dangerous places.

‘There are around 300 different level crossings between Dovey Junction and Pwllheli alone – so everyone needs to stay vigilant and alert when near the railway.

‘Please let your memories be happy ones and not marred by the loss of your beloved pet or worse!’

Krista Sexton, head of operational risk at Network Rail Wales and Borders said: ‘Trains approach almost silently. If you’re distracted by a dog, headphones, mobile phone or anything else, you won’t notice a train approaching until it’s too late. Our advice is simple: STOP, LOOK and LISTEN before using a railway crossing and stay alert.’

Last summer, Transport for Wales, Network Rail and BTP teamed up to release the At What Cost? campaign – after a disturbing trend saw teenagers and some young parents pose for pictures on live tracks in Wales and posting their spoils on TikTok.

Videos and pictures relating to the dangerous craze attracted more than one million views on the popular social media site.

Leyton Powell, Transport for Wales’ Safety and Sustainability Director, said: ‘The railway can be a dangerous place if not treated with respect. It’s vital to take great care when using one of the many level crossings across the Wales and Borders network, including following the key instructions: stop, look and listen.

‘We’re grateful to Mike for sharing his story, which provides insight on what our drivers go through in these terrifying situations.

‘We’re continuing to work closely with our colleagues at Network Rail and the British Transport Police to spread the message of the importance of rail safety in schools and communities across our network, and make sure incidents like this are prevented.’

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