Girl dies in railway crossing accident

The teenager was struck at Johnson’s footpath crossing in Bishop’s Stortford, Herts, at about 11.45am on Saturday.

British Transport Police said she was pronounced dead at the scene and her death is being treated as a “tragic accident”.

A spokesman said her next of kin have been informed but formal identification has not yet taken place, and her name was not expected to be released yesterday.

In 2005, Olivia Bazlinton, 14, and Charlotte Thompson, 13, died at nearby Elsenham station, a few miles from Bishop’s Stortford, when they were hit by a train.

Network Rail is to be prosecuted over their deaths for alleged breaches of health and safety law.

On December 3, 2005, the girls used Elsenham station footpath crossing (owned and operated by Network Rail) to reach the station platform. The station’s footpath crossing was fitted with warning lights and yodel alarms.

A London to Cambridge train passed over the crossing with the red lights and yodel sounding – a warning for foot passengers not to cross.

After the train passed, the lights remained on and the alarms continued to sound as another train, travelling to Stansted airport in Essex, was going to pass through the station. The girls opened the wicket gates and walked on to the crossing. They were both struck by the Stansted train and killed.

The Office of Rail Regulation said Network Rail faced two charges under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and one charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The first hearing is due to take place at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court in Essex tomorrow.