KiwiRail has condemned a driver as "incredibly reckless" after footage showed a car overtaking queued traffic and cutting through lowered barrier arms at a West Auckland level crossing.
The video, taken at the Railside Ave crossing in Henderson about 9am on September 15, shows the car pulling around vehicles waiting at the crossing before driving through the barriers.
A KiwiRail spokesperson said the driver's actions could have had serious consequences.
"The behaviour of the driver in this video is incredibly reckless and this action could have had serious consequences. Barrier arms are only lowered when a train is approaching. If the barriers are down, stop and wait. Never drive around or under them."
The spokesperson said more trains were now running on Auckland's rail network, which made it more important than ever for drivers to obey signals at level crossings.
"Even close calls can take a huge toll on train drivers and all those involved."
KiwiRail warned the rail corridor was an unforgiving environment and a collision could be catastrophic.
"Trains can appear at any time whether they are expected or not. They travel faster than they appear to and take much longer to stop than people realise."
Rail safety charity TrackSAFE NZ also urged drivers to wait at lowered barriers.
Foundation manager Megan Drayton said drivers who went around them were gambling with lives.
"Every time someone drives around lowered barrier arms they are taking an unnecessary and potentially devastating risk. Barrier arms, lights and alarms are there to keep people safe."
Drayton said four people had lost their lives in incidents involving lowered barrier arms in recent years.
"With more train services and higher frequency of services following the opening of CRL, safety in Auckland is more important than ever."
She asked anyone who saw similar behaviour to report it to police immediately.
Near miss interrupts Greens announcement
A car crossed the tracks in front of an approaching train as the party unveiled plans to remove rail crossings on Auckland’s Western Line. (Source: 1News)
The footage emerged as another close call played out in Morningside today, also on the Western Line, which unfolded in front of the Green Party's co-leaders.
Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick were announcing an election pledge to fund the removal of the line's level crossings when a car left a queue of traffic and drove over the tracks ahead of an oncoming train, as the barrier arm was down and alarms sounded.
The train driver sounded the horn.
Swarbrick said the timing could hardly have been more pointed.
"That is case in point as to why we need to remove these level crossings. It's like you set that up. That's incredibly, incredibly dangerous."
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