Alarming number of youths risking their lives at Melbourne rail crossings

An increasing number of young people in Victoria are risking their lives at rail crossings by ignoring warning signs, new data has revealed.

The Department of Transport and Planning has found young people have been involved in more than 1200 safety incidents in the past 12 months, with 52 of those considered close calls.

A further one in 10 have recently walked through an active level crossing.

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Young Melburnians have been caught ignoring signs and running across train lines, prompting Metro Trains to issue a serious warning.

"There could be two trains approaching and people may see one but not the other. A train takes about 300 metres to stop," executive director Paul O'Halloran said.

"It can be traumatic for the people involved but also very traumatic for our train drivers."

O'Halloran attributed the increasing number of incidents to phone usage and noise-cancelling headphones, leaving children distracted and less aware of their surroundings.

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He said rail crossings near schools were a particular concern to authorities and the one on Glenferrie Road Kooyong Station being a "known trouble hot spot".

Marymede Catholic College Principal Tim Newcomb said it was important to instill travel safety in his students who go to school across the road from a train line.

Metro Trains are now heading into schools to share the warning and educate young people.