YOUNGSTERS are risking their lives by taking part in a dangerous craze.

Some trains travelling through Northallerton station, in North Yorkshire, are capable of reaching 125mph and commuters are warned to keep their distance.

But some people are filming trains speeding towards them as they stand near the platform edge, with their cameras shaking because of the speed of the trains.

Some of the youths get so close that the trains appear to brush past them.

The youngsters try to get the drivers to sound train horns and then post videos on YouTube, with titles such as "horny drivers" and "awesome horn".

Messages on the video-sharing website suggest they realise their hobby is dangerous. One user refers to the "X-rated" nature of his video.

Other comments show the participants get an adrenaline rush from what they do and are seen by their peers as "brave".

One video says: "The bad language used is down to a high amount of excitement and adrenaline".

A comment by a YouTube member, whose user name is bigcsoldiers, said: "Lol laugh out loud i would never have the bottle...im always filming were no 1 can see me ur brave mate" sic.

The video's cameraman, who goes by the name smarshthelegend, replied: "Thanks...doesn't really matter at Northallerton station though as theres never a lot of people there anyway." sic.

Rachel Lowe, spokeswoman for Network Rail, which owns but does not run the station, said: "The yellow line is there for a reason - to protect people's safety. We spend an awful lot of time and resources as an industry to try to highlight the dangers of the railway.

"We would stress the danger these people are in and ask: Is it really worth dying or losing an arm for?"

Northallerton station is run by Transpennine Express.

Staff member Neil Crawford said: "We have CCTV coverage in operation and I haven't seen anything like that.

"If there are any incidents, we are straight down. I know what you are talking about, but I haven't heard of it here."

The person who filmed one video, obtained by The Northern Echo, said he had been at the station filming from 10am to 5pm.

Virgin Trains spokesman Ken Gibbs said: "Playing on or near the railway is an extremely dangerous thing to do and people who stand too close to trains can very easily be sucked in and not only injured but killed.

"Every day drivers get into a train cab, they risk people doing what they shouldn't be doing. Whenever they see that they do sound the horn as a warning to the people concerned."

David Ewart, from Cross Country trains, said: "We are very much against anyone putting themselves deliberately at risk in this way and we would very much welcome any action by police."

John Radcliffe, of the British Transport Police, said no such incidents had been reported to the force but its intelligence unit was looking into the claims.

after being contacted by The Northern Echo.