Wareham railway crossing manned

The temporary barriers in Wareham are intended to stop abuse of the crossing, where warning signals are regularly ignored.

A guard situated next to the crossing will activate the gates when a train is approaching and they will remain shut until it is safe to cross.

Footage of people jumping the lights

The gates will be manned for 19 hours a day, from 6am to 1am, and only left open outside of these times.

A Dorset County Council spokesman said: “Until a new way to cross the railway on foot, bike or mobility scooter can be agreed, the gates will ensure that people can continue to use the existing crossing while helping stop the kind of dangerous misuse that has been captured on CCTV.”

A loud alarm and a flashing beacon will warn people when the gates are closing.

Footage of people jumping the lights

If trains are running late, the gates will still be closed at the scheduled time for safety reasons and will only open after the train has left the platform.

The council has also constructed new fencing to provide a safe area for people to wait and a cabin to provide shelter for the guard and gate controls.

The spokesman added: “Discussions are continuing over the design of a safe, long-term solution. Any new arrangement would seek to maintain a pedestrian-cycle link between the Northport area and Wareham town centre, and be safe and accessible for people with disabilities, older people and people with pushchairs.”

Network Rail, the county council and the Wareham community are working together to find a safe, permanent solution.

Long-term options being considered include a safe cycleway/footway alongside the A351 Wareham bypass and a new footbridge compliant with disability criteria.

The Wareham crossing was identified last year as one of the most dangerous in Britain.

The Office of Rail Regulation urged Network Rail and the county council to take steps to reduce the risk of death or injury.