Two men have been ordered to pay fines totalling £15,000 after a High Court judge found them in contempt for breaching undertakings linked to the misuse of a User Worked Crossing in the Limavady area.

Justice Paul McLaughlin imposed a £10,000 fine on one individual and a £5,000 fine on the second. Both were also directed to cover legal costs. The crossing is on the Belfast to Derry-Londonderry line near Castlerock.

Translink said the penalties are among the largest ever enforced for level crossing offences in the UK. Keith Pollock, the operator’s Level Crossing Risk Manager, stated that safety remains the top priority and that while most users follow procedures correctly, enforcement action is necessary when crossings are misused repeatedly.

He called on owners of User Worked Crossings to ensure anyone using them understands the required safety rules, particularly during busy farming and harvest periods when crossing activity increases.

Chief Inspector Celeste Simpson of the PSNI’s Road Policing Unit said level crossings and warning lights exist for good reason. Ignoring or misusing them endangers not only the individuals involved but also rail passengers, staff, and other members of the public.

The court ruling was publicised to coincide with International Level Crossing Awareness Day, a global campaign led by the International Union of Railways aimed at reducing deaths and injuries. Translink also used the occasion to announce a new partnership with the Rail Safety and Standards Board to strengthen safety standards and operational performance across Northern Ireland’s rail network.