This is the nail-biting moment a car narrowly escapes being hit by a train on a closed railway crossing.
The incident caught on CCTV took place on the Kortrijk – Bruges railway line outside the town of Heule in Belgium’s West Flanders Province.
Footage shows how the driver of what appears to be a grey Peugeot 206 neither stops nor slows down before swerving past the closed barrier at red lights to cross the tracks.
Suddenly a train going at high speed appears. It misses the compact car, which just passed the tracks by a few inches.
State-owned railway operator Infrabel spokesman Thomas Baeken said about the incident from 18th February: “We were not aware of this.”
“No report was made. The train was not delayed and the emergency brake was not pulled.”
He added: “For that reason, the incident has remained under our radar.”
Baeken admitted: “We don’t know who committed this serious offence.“
The company official emphasised it was vital to obey traffic rules at railway intersections.
Speaking to local media, Baeken argued: “I really don’t understand why people risk their lives to save just two minutes. This can’t be worth it.
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He underlined: “Red is red. It couldn’t be easier, could it?
“I can only keep repeating the message that when it is red and the barriers are down, you must stop at the level crossing.
“There may be children in the back seat. The life of the train driver has also been endangered by this reckless behaviour.”
He warned: “Hitting a train at such a speed could be fatal.
“We have done so many awareness campaigns. I can only conclude that people are very stubborn.”
More than 320 illicit rail line crossings by motorists took place in Belgium last year, according to Infrabel.
Baeken underlined: “Every year people die by ignoring the stop signal.”
He asked: “Are we stubborn in our country?”
The company spokesman warned: “Anyone who slaloms through the barriers commits a serious traffic violation.”
Anyone caught doing so faces losing their licences and a fine of up to EUR 2,750 (GBP 2,350).
It is unclear whether the police are looking into the offence caught on camera.
