Safety Alert Issued Following Level Crossing Near Miss At Helpston

A serious near miss was recorded at a level crossing near Peterborough after a freight train passed through while the barriers were not fully protecting the road. The incident took place at Helpston manually controlled barrier crossing in Cambridgeshire at approximately 08:16 on 21 October 2025.

According to the initial findings, the crossing barriers were raised in front of vehicles that were waiting to cross just as a freight service was approaching. As the train reached the crossing, it entered the roadway while the barriers were in the process of lifting, creating a potentially dangerous situation for both rail and road users.

The sequence continued as the barriers reached their fully raised position and the wig-wag warning lights switched off, briefly indicating to road users that it was safe to proceed. Moments later, the system reversed, with the barriers lowering once again as the train continued through the crossing. Despite the conflicting signals, drivers waiting at the crossing recognised the danger and remained stationary, preventing any collision.

A preliminary examination into the incident has now been completed. After reviewing the evidence gathered so far, the decision has been taken to issue a safety digest to share early lessons and highlight the circumstances of the event, rather than launching a full investigation at this stage.

Image: RAIB