Schoolgirl risks life to cross live track at Underground station

This shocking image shows a schoolgirl strolling across a live, 630 volt railway line.

The uniform-clad girl was snapped crossing the tracks at Latimer Road tube station, west London, as fellow passengers looked on in horror.

Following the alarming incident at the Hammersmith and City line station yesterday afternoon, the photographer forwarded the image to London Underground.

According to Transport for London, the girl attends a school in west London; the school will soon be receiving a visit from TfL to discuss the topic of rail safety.

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The image was released by the RMT, who say this proves that a lack of station staff is putting lives at risk.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said: “The RMT has warned tube bosses again and again that the job cuts they were proposing would leave many stations unstaffed.

“This is exactly what happened at Latimer Road where it took a passenger with a mobile phone to let London Underground know that a schoolchild has been wandering across electrified track while trains run.”

A spokesman for London Underground denied Latimer Road station was unstaffed yesterday, insisting there was an employee at the gates as usual.

Steve Griffiths, London Underground’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “The safety of our customers and staff is always our first priority.

“We have carried out an urgent investigation into this incident and the station was staffed at the time. We would also like to remind customers that, for their own safety, they should not go onto the tracks.”

Image: RMT Union