Copmanthorpe warning alarms in No Second Chances campaign

New audible warning alarms have been introduced in late 2025 at the Copmanthorpe level crossing on the East Coast Main Line.

Network Rail have said this has already been seen to make a positive difference in preventing near misses from people using the level crossing unsafely.

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David Wortley, route level crossing manager for Network Rail’s East Coast route, said: “We monitored the area with CCTV installation after installing the new audible alarms.

“Footage has already shown several examples where people would likely have crossed without paying full attention had they not heard the warning noise.”

The changes come as part of the wider No Second Chances campaign, organised by Network Rail, British Transport Police (BTP) and the wider rail community, to raise awareness of the serious dangers at level crossings.

The campaign is targeted especially at 18-34-year-olds, with 20-second films to highlight the consequences of distraction.

Despite 84 per cent of the British public claiming to understand the risks, only three per cent realise it takes an 80mph train around a mile to stop – with trains on the East Coast Main Line can travel at up to 125mph, requiring even greater stopping distances.

David added: “It can be hard to visualise how fast trains move, but describing it as being about 55 metres every second seems to help people understand.

“If you couple that speed with the danger of being distracted by wearing headphones, chatting with others or rushing, the result can be fatal.

“There really are no second chances in those circumstances. It only takes a few seconds to stop, look and listen. Those seconds that could save your life.”

Over the past five years, there have been 121 near-misses involving trains and pedestrians on the East Coast Main Line, with 27 incidents recorded in the year to March 2026 alone.

Network Rail is reminding the public to take care and follow these key safety tips at level crossings:

• Always read and follow the signs, and obey lights, alarms, and barriers
• Stop, look, and listen every time you cross and avoid distractions
• Check both directions before crossing—if a train is coming, do not cross until all tracks are clear
• Never stop on a level crossing; cross quickly and safely when it is safe to do so

Linda Wain, engineering and safety director at LNER, said: “It’s incredibly important to be aware of your surroundings at level crossings.

“Our trains travel up to 125 miles per hour, meaning they cover 100 metres in less than two seconds, so stopping immediately is impossible.”