No Second Chances
No Second Chances is a new rail safety campaign designed to confront the real consequences of unsafe behaviour around the railway.
One wrong step, one rushed crossing, one moment of distraction can be all it takes. Unlike other mistakes, this one can’t be taken back.
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This first phase of the campaign focused on level crossing safety, reminding people to stop, look and listen every time, follow the warnings, and remove distractions. The second phase focused on situations where people knowingly take risks on the railway because it feels reasonable, necessary or harmless in the moment.
The new phase of the No Second Chances campaign is about the consequences of trespassing on the railway. It focuses on how the industry tackles deliberate trespass, raising awareness that entering the railway illegally is both dangerous and a criminal offence.
Crime with Consequences – trespassing is a crime campaign
Trespass on the railway is a growing issue affecting passengers, communities and the wider rail network. This illegal behaviour is not just a safety concern. It causes disruption, delays and significant costs across Britain’s railway.
To help address this challenge, we’ve worked with the British Transport Police (BTP) and rail industry partners to launch this new campaign which responds to a common perception that trespass is a low-risk activity with few consequences. Many offenders believe they are unlikely to be caught or prosecuted, helping to normalise illegal behaviour and drive repeat offending.
Campaigns aims
- Raise awareness that trespass is a crime
- Challenge perceptions that offenders won’t be caught
- Promote enforcement and prosecution activity
- Support a consistent industry-wide deterrence approach
What you can do
- Never enter the railway unless you’re authorised to be there
- Always use safe, designated routes to cross the railway
- Report trespass and suspicious behaviour when you see it
- Encourage others to stay safe and stay off the tracks
- Think twice. Trespassing is a crime and can have lasting consequences
Never take shortcuts – trespass campaign
Trespassing on the railway is dangerous and illegal. There are lots of hidden risks when you step onto the track – quiet trains approaching, electrified rail and more. Understanding the risks of trespassing is important for public safety.
The campaign is insight led, research shows that people can wrongly believe they know when a train is coming and that they can judge when it’s “safe” to cross, and there are also important gaps in understanding around the dangers of electrified rail.
Campaign aims
- Encourage people to make safe choices by using designated routes and reinforcing that there is never a safe shortcut across the tracks.
- Raise awareness of the severe consequences of trespassing on the railway, including life-changing injuries and fatalities caused by a single wrong step.
- Improve understanding of the hidden dangers posed by high-voltage electrified rail, and trains that approach faster and more quietly than many people expect.
What you can do
- Remember to stay back, stay alert and stay safe.
- Never take shortcuts across the railway.
- Pay attention to your surroundings – if it isn’t a level crossing do not go onto the railway.
One Distraction – Level Crossing campaign
Level crossings are places where the railway meets a road or footpath. They exist so people can cross safely, but they can be unforgiving when attention slips.
The One Distraction No Second Chances level crossing campaign is aimed at reducing risky behaviour at crossings, especially when people are distracted, over-familiar, or misjudge a train’s speed and distance. It focuses on everyday behaviours that can quickly become dangerous, such as using a phone, wearing headphones, rushing, or assuming it’s safe because you’ve crossed there many times before.
This campaign has been shaped using audience insight, which showed that traditional safety messaging doesn’t always cut through, particularly for younger adults. The creative approach is deliberately more hard-hitting to make people pause and think before they cross.
Campaign aims
This campaign aims to:
- Increase understanding of the specific risks at level crossings, including distraction, complacency and misjudgement of train speed and distance
- Encourage safer choices at the point of use: stop, look and listen, follow the warnings, and remove distractions
- Reduce unsafe behaviour at level crossings and help prevent near misses, serious injuries and fatalities
What you can do
We are urging the public to stay safe when using level crossings by following this advice:
- Stop, look and listen. Every crossing is different, so always read the signs and follow the instructions.
- Understand the warning signs (lights, barriers, alarms) and obey them fully. Always follow the instructions at each level crossing completely.
- Check both ways before crossing. If there is a train coming, wait behind the barrier or marked line until it has passed. Remember there may be more than one train, and they may be coming from different directions.
- Cross quickly and safely. Make sure your exit route is clear and do not stop when crossing.
- Only cross when all tracks are clear, and where provided, lights and audible warnings are not active.
For more guidance on using level crossings safely, visit our Level Crossing safety page.