UK: One dead as train hits car

One person was killed today when a rush-hour train hit a car on a level crossing in the UK.

The accident happened around 7.25am at Swainsthorpe in Norfolk and involved the 6.22am Colchester to Norwich service.

The train is believed to have been travelling at around 100mph. The death involved a person in the car, and everyone on the train was thought to be unhurt.

British Transport Police Inspector Chris Connell said: "There is one confirmed fatality in the vehicle and another person may have been killed.

“The train is safe and upright and there are not thought to be any injuries to those on board.”

The incident comes just a day after the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) issued a policy statement about level crossings, saying they represent the biggest risk of train accidents that could kill passengers.

In November 2004, six people were killed when a train hit a car that had stopped at a level crossing at Ufton Nervet near Reading in Berkshire.

The dead included the driver of the car, the train driver and four passengers.

Yesterday, the ORR said that except in exceptional circumstances, there should be no new level crossings on any railway.

It added that it was not effective for only rail companies to be responsible for managing safety at level crossings.

The ORR added that decisions about level crossings must involve rail companies, highway authorities and other relevant organisations as early on as possible.

There are about 7,700 level crossings on the national rail network.

The high-speed train involved was operated by the One rail company.

One spokesman Jonathan Denby said: “The train was operating at its line speed of about 100mph and was about five or six miles south of Norwich when it struck a car on a level crossing at Swainsthorpe.

“The train stayed on the tracks and was able to stop about a mile and half beyond the crossing. Thankfully, there were no injuries to those on board. There were about 55 passengers on the train.”

Mr Denby said he did not know if the crossing was a half-barrier or a full-barrier type.