Brickfields Level Crossing Closed After Children Play Chicken Trains Upminster 2026

Key Points

• Emergency Closure Implemented: Network Rail has enforced an immediate emergency closure of the Brickfields level crossing near Upminster in the London Borough of Havering.
• Dangerous Misuse Captured on Camera: CCTV recordings and level crossing use surveys captured children and teenagers walking on anti-trespass boards, using mobile phones, performing handstands, and playing ‘chicken’ with oncoming trains.
• Closure Period Extended: Initially shut for 21 days from September 30, rail authorities confirmed the crossing will remain closed until educational safety presentations are delivered across all year groups in local schools.
• Heavy Rail Traffic: Approximately 230 trains traverse the c2c line through the Brickfields crossing every day, creating an unacceptable safety risk to trespassers.
• Pedestrian Diversion Active: A alternative pedestrian route has been established via Nightingale Avenue, Moore Lane, Front Lane, and St Marys Lane.
• Joint Enforcement and Education: Network Rail and the British Transport Police are delivering joint educational safety sessions under the national ‘No Second Chances’ safety campaign framework.

Havering (East London Times) October 12, 2026 — Network Rail has instituted an emergency safety closure of the Brickfields level crossing near Upminster after children and teenagers were captured on surveillance footage engaging in life-threatening activities, including playing ‘chicken’ with oncoming high-speed trains. As reported by local media outlets including the Romford Recorder and BBC News, rail infrastructure managers enacted an initial 21-day temporary closure order on September 30, which has now been extended indefinitely until intensive railway safety education is delivered to every year group across nearby schools.

Why Was the Brickfields Level Crossing Closed as an Emergency Measure?

As reported by the Romford Recorder, the emergency shutdown was initiated after a routine level crossing use survey and CCTV monitoring exposed severe and deliberate safety breaches by youth groups. Footage gathered by Network Rail showed children and teenagers performing handstands on the tracks, using mobile devices while crossing, walking across anti-trespass safety boards, and waiting in the direct path of oncoming trains to play ‘chicken’.

With roughly 230 trains operating along the c2c rail corridor each day, Network Rail determined that the reckless behaviour represented an unacceptable, immediate risk to life. As covered by RailAdvent, rail safety engineers concluded that physical access had to be severed to prevent a fatality.

“Every railway safety conversation could help prevent a tragedy,” a Network Rail spokesperson stated during the official announcement of the closure.

What Steps Are Network Rail and British Transport Police Taking to Address Rail Misuse?

As detailed by the Southend Echo, Network Rail has joined forces with the British Transport Police (BTP) to roll out an emergency educational initiative aimed at local school pupils. The temporary closure will not be lifted until comprehensive railway safety presentations are completed for all year groups at nearby educational institutions.

The intervention reinforces Network Rail’s ongoing ‘No Second Chances’ national rail safety campaign, which illustrates the devastating consequences of trespassing on live railway corridors. Officers from the British Transport Police are conducting targeted community outreach alongside local enforcement teams to stress the extreme dangers of railway tracks.

Members of the public who observe suspicious or dangerous activities on or near railway lines are urged to contact the British Transport Police immediately by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40, or dialing 999 in an emergency.

How Are Local Pedestrians and Commuters Being Rerouted During the Closure?

As reported in the official Network Rail release, pedestrian traffic typically utilizing the Brickfields level crossing has been redirected along a designated detour route.

To maintain foot connectivity across Havering, local residents and school children are instructed to bypass the closed crossing via:

• Nightingale Avenue
• Moore Lane
• Front Lane
• St Marys Lane

Parents, carers, and school staff across Upminster have been urged by authorities to speak directly with young people regarding rail safety, ensuring they understand the mortal dangers associated with railway trespassing and distraction around active tracks.

What Is the Background of the Brickfields Level Crossing Safety Issues?

The emergency closure at Brickfields reflects an ongoing challenge for UK rail infrastructure managers regarding level crossing safety, pedestrian distraction, and youth trespassing. Level crossings in suburban London zones frequently intersect dense residential areas and pedestrian footpaths leading to schools, creating points of vulnerability when safety protocols are intentionally ignored.

Over recent years, Network Rail has systematically assessed, upgraded, or permanently closed hundreds of high-risk pedestrian crossings across the national rail network. Historical data indicates that level crossing misuse remains one of the leading external causes of non-fatal and fatal trespass incidents on the UK railway network.

The c2c rail line running through Upminster handles frequent passenger services connecting East London with Essex, operating high-density schedules where trains travel at high speeds. Because modern passenger trains require significant stopping distances—often up to several hundred metres even under emergency braking—individuals standing on or near the tracks leave train drivers with virtually no capacity to avoid collisions.

What Is the Prediction for How This Development Will Affect Local Residents and Commuters?

The extended closure of the Brickfields level crossing will directly impact the daily routines of local residents, students, and commuters within the Upminster and broader Havering area.

Impact on Pedestrians and School Pupils

In the short to medium term, pedestrians who rely on the Brickfields crossing for direct access across the railway will experience increased journey times. Students walking to and from local schools will need to budget extra time to navigate the designated diversion route via Nightingale Avenue, Moore Lane, Front Lane, and St Marys Lane. However, the temporary inconvenience is expected to significantly reduce the risk of catastrophic accidents among young people in the community.

Impact on Rail Passengers and Train Drivers

For passengers on the c2c rail line, the temporary physical closure reduces the potential for major transit disruptions caused by emergency braking, trespass incidents, or fatal collisions. Train drivers operating along the corridor will experience reduced operational stress regarding potential hazards at this specific location.

Long-Term Operational Infrastructure Outlook

If educational outreach and enforcement measures fail to produce sustained improvements in pedestrian safety behaviour, Network Rail may evaluate permanent closure options or construct alternate permanent infrastructure, such as a pedestrian footbridge or underpass. Such capital investments would permanently eliminate the risk of track trespass while restoring direct, safe pedestrian access across the railway line.