Motorists and pedestrians in Queensland are playing Russian roulette with trains, a minister has said after releasing footage of numerous near misses at level crossings.

Among the "disturbing" incidents caught on Queensland Rail cameras were a driver crashing through a lowered boom gate to beat a train by seconds, and a man and woman pushing a pram across the tracks as a train approached.

Transport Minister Scott Emerson today visited Coopers Plains train station, one of the state's hotspots for railway crossing near misses where 46 or the 135 near misses reported across the state so far this year occurred.

He described the footage "shocking and disturbing".

"We see evidence and footage of this in terms of people putting their own lives at risk. They are so lucky to be alive today - if not for a moment of seconds, they could have been killed or very badly injured," he said.

"You wonder why people put their lives at risk. They must be trying to save a couple of seconds to get from A to B, but the reality is the cost and price they may have to pay is beyond belief."

Last year in Queensland there were 285 incidents described as near misses, a drop from the 397 recorded in 2012.

"I want to see no one putting their lives at risk and playing Russian roulette with trains," Mr Emerson said.

Summary of railway crossing near-misses Region 2012 2013 South-east Queensland 224 163 South-west Queensland 70 54 North Queensland 42 28 Far north Queensland/Tablelands 18 10 Mackay/Whitsunday 14 5 North-west Queensland 5 13 Central Queensland 10 3 Central West 5 4 Wide Bay 6 2 Gympie/Sunshine Coast 3 3 Total 397 285

Train drivers 'never forget' near misses

Train driver Shaun Boland said the impact of near misses weighed heavily on Queensland Rail workers.

"It's something you never forget," he said.

"The worse situations always seem to stay at the forefront of your mind when you're running through that section of track again and again every day."

RACQ executive manager of technical and safety policy Steve Spalding said there was no excuse for driving past the flashing lights or around a boom gate.

"You're not just breaking the road rules but you're also placing yourself and your passengers in a dangerous situation and possibly risking the lives of those on board the train," Mr Spalding said.

Pedestrians caught ignoring railway crossing protection could receive an on the spot fine of $220, and offending motorists could face a $330 penalty and three demerit points.

Motorists who damage railway crossings can be fined up to $8,800.

Since July 2013, Queensland Rail has successfully recovered more than $239,000 in repair costs that would otherwise be borne by taxpayers.