Southampton Level Crossing 02/06/2016 (5, misuse!)

In this very long video we see some teenagers who thing it's really funny to race the barriers when they are already closing - one gets whacked on the back by the falling barrier, and this person gets his revenge by bending another one severely as he tries to climb over on the other side. Eight trains are seen in this video, including three freight trains giving a total wait time of about 15 minutes.
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[@emmafranklin7223]

Thank you for this, brought back some memories! I used to cycle across this regularly on my way home from school. Always close thing as to whether I hit it at the right time and could sail across, or catch a run of freight trains and be stuck there 🤣 never tried crossing once barriers and signals started. But I grew up in an era of really scary videos in school showing what happened to kids on railways, near rivers, on farms .....

[@DiggerEvans]

fantastic video especially the freight, i love it, ! those who try to beat the gates at a crossing really do have manure for brains

[@FLCollection620]

yeah

[@podgee7507]

BS

[@FLCollection620]

@@podgee7507 hey! That’s mean

[@geoffreylee5199]

This site needs a bridge, or underpass.

[@afgzee2011]

there is a bridge there already

[@retiree1033]

I think he means a road bridge.

[@pufango4059]

Are you going to pay for it ?

[@jimcrawford5039]

That’s a ridiculous wait! Australia.

[@killakanzgaming]

Barriers down for 15 minutes! 8 trains through and one stopped on the crossing... That's a signaler having a bad day...

[@walterfink9782]

When you have a crossing like this one, with multiple tracks, and close to a RR yard, long waits are the rule, not the exception. KZbin has a video, of a crossing, in Japan, of at least 10+ tracks. The wait time can be 30 minutes, more or less. When the signal clears, and traffic can go, it only lasts a few minutes or so. I did find out, that this crossing is not a main one, and another crossing, a few blocks away, actually goes under all the tracks, so no train delays.

[@williamweir9088]

Is this some kind of joke? What if the emergency services had to get by this.

[@delta.australia]

Wow. That must be especially rare to catch on camera. You should send that to British Transport Police or Network Rail!

[@thatchamtmd5033]

+Southcoast level crossings great video I can t believe how busy it is there

[@SouthCoastLevelCrossings34]

There's about 16 passenger trains an hour, plus freight trains.

[@Autumn_Daze]

In the time this video has been playing I've put the rubbish out, put away shopping, laundry and washing up and made a coffee! It must be a nightmare just missing the gates closing and waiting there for 10 or 15 minutes. There must be another road that bypasses the crossing?

[@footballxedits7514]

I live in southampton and regularly visit mt pleasant

[@Bobrogers99]

Although there's no excuse for the two lads who disregarded the lights and may have damaged the barriers, it's not unusual behavior for that age. They're always in a hurry, unless you want them to do something. If this crossing is notorious for long wait times, if I were in a car I'd plan some other route and never go this way. Impatient bikers could carry their bikes up the stairs of the overhead walkway.

[@user-jal99]

Southampton is one of the busiest container ports in the U.K. so lots of rail traffic. Better than all that being on the roads!

[@carlobst631]

Think the option of replacing the level crossing with a road over bridge should be considered

[@ChachaChapati]

Great video. Might the construction of a subway/underpass be a better option for this crossing?

[@Banan0307]

Yes, there already is a bridge.

[@maxart6535]

Wow such a level crossing that is closed for such a long time. Gosh definitely everyone was impatient. Hopefully trains won’t take that long to cross. Yeah they should do a bridge or tunnel there.

[@mattatiger2773]

There’s another video that shows a NetworkRail van misusing the crossing as well. The red lights had been flashing for at least 3 seconds and they just went on through!

[@inkyscrolls5193]

What's that pedestrian doing on the far left of the screen at 2:44? Looks pretty weird.

[@SouthCoastLevelCrossings34]

I'm not sure! I didn't notice them there.

[@inkyscrolls5193]

Something odd, to be sure!

[@antman5474]

Must be a local custom.

[@mathieudelarue3086]

Freebasing tarmac.

[@MattPat427]

Insurance scam perhaps?

[@delta.australia]

WHOA! A record!!

[@freebrickproductions]

Nice catches, especially with that meet!

[@alstokesveteranfilmmaker913]

Is that crossing on Mount Pleasant Road (Northam, Southampton) which, when I worked down there (1985), was deemed the busiest level crossing in the UK? Pedestrians had to be fast on their feet as there was only a short gap between passing freight trains. There was a handy foot bridge but fairly lethal in winter, especially when it snowed. As I recall the rail line ran alongside the River Itchen then down to the docks on the River Test. (possibly - it was a long time ago) An oddity of the line was a spur ran through TV South's Studio car park and once a year BR ran a train through to, as it were, make sure everyone knew it was their property. The sight of hundreds of technicians running to move their cars was hilarious. One year one of these trains derailed and staff were trapped in the car park. No injuries. The line was discontinued when someone built a bridge on the tracks further down river.

[@SouthCoastLevelCrossings34]

Hello Al! Thank you for your great comment. This crossing is on Mount Pleasant road in Northam. This crossing remains extremely busy and exactly how you described, with short gaps between lengthy closures to let multiple trains past. Pedestrians are still quick on their feet - but only to run across before the barriers come down!

[@alstokesveteranfilmmaker913]

I remember the area more built up than your vid' shows - well I has been a long time. There was a huge estate of 2-up 2-down terraced houses and some decent pubs, to the west of Mount Pleasant, which I do hope haven't gone under the bulldozer. The historic relevance being that was where much of Titanic's crew lived. I used to leave my hotel 20-minutes early every morning to factor in that flaming level crossing. This in the days when hotel breakfasts were good solid 'heart attack on a plate.' My only real fear of that crossing was the gates might begin to close as I was halfway across - full of sausages and bacon and egg and beans ... I'll be visiting friends in Pompey in a few weeks time and am wondering if I can emotionally blackmail them into driving up the road, to relive the days of my yoof. Incidentally, the doco I was working on was called "A Perfect Lady" about a two-seat Spitfire rebuilt and later flown. The new owner said it came to in boxes which he called 'the biggest Mecco set in the world.' Thanks for posting - you brought back great memories.

[@SouthCoastLevelCrossings34]

Hello again Al! I'm glad that I have reminded you of what sounds like some great memories. I did have a chuckle after reading the breakfasts being a 'heart attack on a plate!' I hope you have a nice time in Portsmouth too.

[@janebower9721]

2 misuse, 8 trains, wow!

[@JTCrossingsUK]

Look at the back car waiting, what did that guy do? Did he fall over while he was running?

[@unclewillywow]

what are the boys doing

[@Liam2ushrod]

Wow this is an amazing video, thank you for uploading! I think it's pretty clear to see why this is the busiest level crossing in the UK! If you mention the video of these idiots to the daily echo, I'm sure they'd have your story, because this is just ridiculous. It's the sort of thing that you see published in network rails website to raise awareness! And you've done it in HD 😉😉😎

[@SouthCoastLevelCrossings34]

Yes thank you, its an incredibly busy crossing! I'll let the daily echo know. :-)

[@eastsussexlevelcrossingsan7853]

Well this may surprise you, Hampden park is actually the busiest level crossing in the uk. It's very silly how this isn't but Hampden park is the busiest in the uk

[@FlashingRedProductions]

+East Sussex Level crossings and supercars Actually, Mount Pleasant (Southampton) is probably the busiest crossing in the UK because that one sees around 389 trains a day but Hampden Park only sees around 260 a day.

[@eastsussexlevelcrossingsan7853]

+Will Scriven (WillScriven13) well it is almost the busiest crossing. Its in the range of the busiest crossings :)

[@SouthCoastLevelCrossings34]

+East Sussex Level crossings and supercars Using data from the network rail website, the busiest Road level crossing is actually Barnes level crossings, and the busiest foot crossing is somewhere near Gatwick Airport with over 600 trains a day.

[@Mariazellerbahn]

Blocking the road for a ridiculous length of time for no good reason, and parking a freight across the road when it could have been held back is stupidity on the signallers part. What if an ambulance had been in the queue? There should be a maximum time that roads can be held up or have a bridge constructed. If trains have to be held up to relieve the road, then so be it.

[@lindsaydavis4188]

Most traffic uses the main road bridge originally constructed over a hundred years ago. Ambulances would never use the route. The route is no more than a useful local short cut. The freight train is being held to allow passenger trains to overtake it. There is simply no other location on this part of the network where this can be done.

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

I hope that skirt broke his back xD. We're catching more and more idiots misusing level crossings now. Nice catch. Hope that GWE barrier was OK. I guess the signaller either didn't see them cross or couldn't be bothered to stop the barriers.

[@SouthCoastLevelCrossings34]

+Fabe (Faberoony90) Are they relatively light then?

[@UKLevelCrossingsChannel]

+Fabe (Faberoony90) Obviously they weren't gonna break his back. These GWE barriers wobbled so much when the twats climbed over them. SPX Rail Systems arms are much more stronger.

[@JaeCallow]

The skirts here are metal

[@petes48]

That's a busy place between Eastleigh and Southampton and the Docks to have a crossing, yes they are idiots - one day someone will be hurt! Like how the freight stopped across the crossing.

[@EdgyNumber1]

Prime candidate for a full road bridge here. Whilst I am a fan of natural selection, they got rid of the LC's on the Birmingham branch of the WCML, trains run faster and everyone gets home safe at the end of the day.

[@lauramelville3157]

59 freight cars including the engine car

[@madpom2]

At 1.16 is that red ridge towers or millbrook towers on the left of the shot?

[@retiree1033]

That's Millbank House on the Northam Estate.

[@telemachus53]

0:48 ...Ow!

[@EWSTrains]

I bet the lights are getting tired

[@EWSTrains]

You get ethrythink from Southampton at that crossing

[@ispi_video_photo]

The alternative routes may be a pain in the $&@%*, but they are far more viable than going this way.

[@edhoc2]

Why do the trains run so slow? Ok, the passenger train at 6:50 are fast (=normal), but the majority sees to be slow. It is a straight railway line.

[@CaptainKevinandCarol]

Maybe because of the very sharp flange screeching bend just 1/2 miles south of the crossing which leads to Southampton tunnel

[@NovioSites]

Those crazy waiting times are asking for idiots doing dumb stuff. It's not right, but a 15 minute closure isn't either. Should be really improved with a tunnel or bridge.

[@Andrew...00]

NovioSites easier said than done mate

[@rubyait]

Interesting video. Who’d believe?

[@ryanthomas94productions42]

Teenagers should not mess around when the barriers are closing on a level crossing. The police should have told them off for doing a naughty thing.

[@val6291]

6:01 YOU HAD ONE JOB 😡😡😡😡

[@dashcamdude6690]

If one of thoses boys feel on the corssing its all over three freight trians four passenger trains there be noting left

[@martw5291]

Honestly, in the UK the gates go down way to damn early. This crossing shouldn't exist if the wait time is nearly 10 minutes.

[@inkyscrolls5193]

There's one in my village (Yorkshire) which was down for forty minutes once. =D

[@ashbridgeindustries380]

+Inky Scrolls I was in Rossington, South Yorkshire once and the barriers were down for about half an hour. Nine trains in all.

[@inkyscrolls5193]

+Ashbridge Industries Whew, nasty!

[@ashbridgeindustries380]

Inky Scrolls Yeah, it's on the ECML, so it gets quite busy.

[@mattatiger2773]

Well you see it has been done before where they don’t do that. It’s called the United States. The number one country for fatalities at their leve- er excuse me, RailRoad Crossings. Their death tolls are higher than India! So that’s why we have the barriers come down so early. Or at least here.

[@timdaugherty5921]

Why do the cops not arrest people for this there??

[@sylviaelse5086]

Well, you know that if the gates are just closing then you do have enough time to get across before the train comes. Given the density of train traffic (and freight trains that stop across the junction - that could surely be avoided) it's easy to see why people would break the law.

[@greenmanofkent]

15 minutes wait time at a level crossing is absurd. Is it any wonder that pedestrians or cycists cross against the red (misuse as you call it)? Here in North America crossings that were closed for that long would never be tolerated; there would have to be an underpass. If grade separation is not practical due to space limitations, has any thought been given to actually scheduling the closures for certain periods each hour say, and adjusting train timings to match? It would eliminate a lot of frustration, I think.

[@explorer47422]

Reschedule the entire railway line timing schedule for a single level crossing? Unlikely. Best just put up a sign saying 'long delays expected' and encourage vehicles to find alternative routes over a nearby bridge

[@Worthingbob67]

But then you Yanks have not got any tolerance.

[@MorrisHGT]

That's why there is a bridge over the tracks, people are to lazy to use them.

[@dnirvine]

I know depending on the situations here in Canada (like if a train is spotting cars), wait times can be up to 15 minutes.

[@hkgspotter1]

In America you have trains that take that long to cross a crossing.... do you jump under them as they cross??

[@cleanerben9636]

nice of the freight train to block your shot

[@podgee7507]

good video, but the railway's system is a joke, tie the road crossing up for 8 min is a joke, no woulder, people want to beat the train.

[@SamGKOther_]

+ South Coast Level Crossings People that is dangerous

[@MikeWillSee]

I hope you reported them to the police

[@stevegorman5500]

total careless and disregard for road use should be reported to british transport police

[@melodytheyeen]

damn damn damn. you could bring that footage to the police, but I'm not sure if being a minor protects you in the uk

[@retiree1033]

It seems all law abiding citizens in The UK are the only ones to fear the police these days.

[@nathansinclair8459]

entire fill the missing letters

[@darrelllyons6606]

I hope they got caught by the police

[@salty3895]

This is torture for tho people that waited lmao

[@SouthCoastLevelCrossings34]

Pixel Fire Yes they did have to wait a while! This happens quite often too

[@salty3895]

Omg you replied even tho this was 2 year ago cheers

[@SouthCoastLevelCrossings34]

Pixel Fire Ha ha that's ok! I still get the notifications through when someone comments on my old videos

[@littlewishy6432]

They need to have a proper alternative route available, and have signs that say “Use Alt. Route when trains are present” Like this: Google Earth Link earth.app.goo.gl/X8NpYL #googleearth

[@Worthingbob67]

Typical Scummers

[@BartoszDotryw]

Polish guys... What a shame...

[@Isochest]

Do you know them?

[@ACLifts]

Little pricks :-L

[@robloxgamer4121]

Wow just pricks Run I got to get to the other side cause I am cooler

[@clintstrutt1544]

that explains why that freight train stopped