CCTV footage has captured the heart-stopping moment a woman was just seconds away from being hit by a train.

Two women were caught on camera climbing around a locked gate to cross a level crossing – but one of them was forced to jump back to avoid a passing train by mere inches.

The incident happened in April at Elsenham in Essex, at the same level crossing where two teenage girls were killed after being hit by a train in 2005.

Network Rail was fined £1 million after it was found an automatic locking system failed as Olivia Bazlinton, 14, and Charlotte Thompson, 13, crossed the platform.

The rail company has released the CCTV of the most recent incident, which Olivia’s mum Tina Hughes described as ‘shocking’, to urge people to stick to the rules on the railways.

Tina said: ‘I was shocked when I saw the video but I hope it will help to prevent others gambling with their lives in future.

‘After all the improvements that have been made to this level crossing and so many others after Olivia and Charlotte’s deaths, it is hard to believe that people would ignore the safety measures and warnings.

‘I urge everyone to read instructions carefully and always respect locked gates, barriers, lights and alarms.’

One woman wandered across the tracks just seconds before a train sped past (Picture: Network Rail/SWNS)

The second woman jumped back as a train passed mere inches away (Picture: Network Rail/SWNS)

The women couldn’t get past the locked gate and climbed over fencing (Picture: Network Rail/SWNS)

They were too impatient to wait for the crossing to reopen (Picture: Network Rail/SWNS)

Tina Hughes, Olivia’s mother (second from right) described the footage as ‘shocking’ (Picture: Network Rail/SWNS)

There have been 20 accidental deaths at level crossings across the UK since April 2019 – six of them in Anglia.

Across the Anglia region there have already been 42 near-misses this year.

Suzanne Renton, head of safety at Network Rail Anglia, said: ‘Our teams across Anglia were out and about yesterday speaking with passengers and members of the public about sticking to the rules on level crossings.

‘The women in the CCTV video came to no harm thankfully, but it clearly shows how taking a risk on the railway could easily end in death or serious injury.’

Since the deaths of Olivia and Charlotte, Network Rail has hired more than 100 level crossing managers.

At Elsenham a footbridge was installed, the gates are locked shut when a train is coming, and there are now ticket machines on both platforms.

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The incident happened in April at Elsenham in Essex, at the same level crossing where two teenage girls were killed after being hit by a train in 2005.