39 times in nine days, a train stopped short, and a crossing in Kent is now shut
What happened
On Monday 26 October 2026, Network Rail and South Eastern Railway temporarily closed a level crossing in Kent. It is called Coldblow level crossing, near Walmer. It is a small crossing on the Kent route, with manual gates and a set of red and green warning lights. About 25 vehicles use it on a normal day. About 60 trains pass over it. The closure followed a run of incidents. There was a near miss between a car and a bicycle. On several occasions, motorcycles or electric scooters went across the railway through the pedestrian gates, which are not for vehicles. One motorcyclist moved out of a train's path at the last moment. The most serious came more recently. A train made an emergency brake application and stopped short of the crossing to avoid hitting a car. The railway then watched the crossing for nine days and counted what was happening. In that period there were 39 separate instances of motorcycles or e-scooters crossing through the pedestrian gates. Dogs were off the lead on 138 occasions. Vincent van der Hoeven, Head of Route Quality, Health, Safety and Environment for South Eastern Railway, said: "Keeping the public safe is our priority." He called the closure a "difficult decision", but said the risks of the behaviour could not be ignored. A diversionary route is in place. The crossing stays shut for now.
Why this matters
Nine days. Thirty-nine vehicle crossings through a gate meant for people on foot. That is more than four a day, at a crossing used by about 25 vehicles a day in total. That is not an occasional lapse. It is a habit. The physics is what makes it serious. A train cannot swerve and cannot stop quickly. Sixty trains a day over a crossing means a train roughly every quarter of an hour during the working day. The gap between "nothing happened" and "somebody died" at a crossing is usually a second or two of timing. The emergency brake incident is the one to pay attention to. That train stopped short, which means the driver saw the car in time. On a different day, at a different speed, that is a fatal collision and a derailment. The dog figure matters more than it sounds too. A dog off the lead near a railway will go where its nose takes it. If it goes onto the track, the owner follows, and that is how people get killed at crossings. Mr van der Hoeven asked parents, carers, teachers and the wider community to reinforce the message. "Every conversation about railway safety could help avert a tragedy," he said. That is the uncomfortable part of this story. The railway can shut a crossing, but it cannot change what people do at the next one.
What the evidence actually says
The nine-day count is the strongest part of the evidence, and it is worth being clear about what it is. It is an observation of behaviour at one crossing over nine days. It shows a consistent pattern of misuse, not a one-off. That is exactly the kind of evidence that justifies closing something, because it suggests the next incident is a matter of time rather than chance. What it does not tell us is who was doing it, or why. Some of it may be local people taking a shortcut they have taken for years. Some may be people who do not realise the pedestrian gate is not for vehicles. The closure is described as temporary. South Eastern Railway's specialist safety team will use the time to assess whether more safety measures are needed, and the railway says more information will follow. It has not said when or whether the crossing will reopen, or what might change. Network Rail, South Eastern Railway and British Transport Police say they will use education, enforcement and community engagement together. Visits to local schools are being planned. The incidents also reinforce the national "No Second Chances" campaign, which ran earlier in 2026 and urged people to stop, think and stay safe at crossings. One honest gap: the announcement does not say whether anyone has been prosecuted. Education and enforcement are both mentioned; only the education is described.
Practical advice
If you use a level crossing with manual gates, the correct method is specific and it matters. In a vehicle: open the gates on both sides first, then drive across, then close both gates behind you. Check that the green light is on before you start. If it turns red, wait for the train or trains to pass and for the green light to come back. Never stop while you are on the crossing. On foot: check the green light is on before you cross, and keep going once you start. With a dog: keep it on a lead. Every time, even if your dog is normally reliable. Never take a motorcycle, scooter or bicycle through a pedestrian gate. It is not a shortcut, it is a gate designed for someone walking at walking pace. If you see dangerous behaviour on or near the railway, report it to British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40. In an emergency, call 999. If you are affected by this closure and want to know more, Network Rail's national helpline for passengers and community members is 03457 11 41 41. For train times and travel updates, check National Rail Enquiries at nationalrail.co.uk. If you have children who walk or cycle near a railway, have the conversation now rather than after an incident. South Eastern Railway runs a safety education centre in Margate for children from Year 5 upwards, and schools can arrange visits.
What to know
Coldblow level crossing near Walmer in Kent was temporarily closed on 26 October 2026 after repeated dangerous misuse. Over a nine-day observation period there were 39 instances of motorcycles or e-scooters going through the pedestrian gates, and dogs were off the lead 138 times. Earlier incidents included a near miss between a car and a bicycle, a motorcyclist moving clear of a train at the last moment, and a train braking in an emergency to stop short of a car on the crossing. The crossing carries about 25 vehicles and 60 trains a day. A diversionary route is in place, and a specialist safety team will assess what further measures are needed. No reopening date has been given. The practical points apply anywhere: open both gates before driving across and close them behind you, check the green light, never stop on the crossing, keep dogs on a lead, and never take a bike or scooter through a pedestrian gate. Report dangerous behaviour to British Transport Police on 61016, or 999 in an emergency. Sources: Network Rail Media Centre, "Emergency closure of Coldblow level crossing after dangerous behaviour captured on camera", 26 October 2026, https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/emergency-closure-of-coldblow-level-crossing-after-dangerous-behaviour-captured-on-camera — Network Rail, "Level crossing safety", https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/safety-in-the-community/level-crossing-safety/ — South Eastern Railway, https://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/ This article is for general information. Always follow the signs and signals at the crossing you are using, and check with your train operator for the latest travel information.
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