Chilling footage from a train cab window shows how close a woman came to being killed when she ignored a barrier at a level crossing.

The unknown woman noticed the train little more than a second before it passed her at speed on the crossing in Southport.

She already had a foot on the rail and appeared to lose balance as she tried to reverse her momentum and escape the train’s path.

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Network Rail has released the footage as a warning to others of the dangers presented by the junctions with one level crossing manager confessing he had never seen a closer escape.

‘The individual appeared to be completely unaware of her surroundings, suggesting she may have been distracted at the time,’ said Simon Shipperd of Network Rail.

‘In my time as a level crossing manager I haven’t seen a near miss this close to being a fatality.

It was a cloudless bright morning when the woman approached the crossing in Southport, Merseyside, on January 24, and visibilty was good as the driver headed at just 30mph along the straight stretch of track.

But the woman appeared oblivious as she ignored both the closed barrier and a set of flashing hazard lights to step over the rail.

As the train approaches the woman seems to lose her balance as the momentum takes her forward

As the train approaches the woman seems to lose her balance as the momentum takes her forward

In footage taken from the drivers cab you can see the woman's foot on the track as the train approaches

In footage taken from the drivers cab you can see the woman’s foot on the track as the train approaches

Off balance, the woman just manages to avoid being hit as the train goes past the level crossing

Off balance, the woman just manages to avoid being hit as the train goes past the level crossing

The train was within a few feet of her before she noticed it and just managed to stagger back out of its path.

‘Safety is our top priority and we cannot stress the message to pedestrians enough to please take extra care when approaching level crossings,’ Mr Shipperd said.

There were two fatalities at level crossings from March 2023 to April 2024 according to the Office of Rail and Road.

Over £200 million has been invested in improving safety at level crossings since 2009, including closures, building bridges, installing new barriers, and warning systems.

Chief Inspector Jamie McGowan said: ‘There is simply no excuse for misusing a level crossing and ignoring safety procedures.

‘Trying to beat the system or failing to pay attention not only puts your own life at risk but also the lives of the passengers and staff of the oncoming train.

‘The railways can be incredibly dangerous, which is why people need to do the right thing when using railway level crossings and treat them with respect.’This is the moment a woman narrowly avoided being hit by a train in what one Network Rail boss described as the closest call he has ever seen.