13.07.12
Level crossing car death in Norfolk
An investigation has been launched after a car driver was killed by a train in a level crossing accident in Norfolk.
The man was hit by a First Capital Connect train at the Pleasants level crossing yesterday at 1.15pm. No passengers were hurt and the train was not derailed.
The incident caused unions to call for more level crossing closures. Last night Manuel Cortes, leader of rail union the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association, said: “The sooner Network Rail starts to close these potential dangerous crossings, the better it will be for both rail passengers and road users.”
No FCC services were running between Ely andKing’s Lynnfollowing the incident, and passengers were transported via bus to their destinations. The level crossing was a ‘user-worked’ type, where the user is responsible for opening and closing the gate.
“Officers are currently working to establish the full circumstances including how the car came to be on the tracks,” a BTP spokeswoman said.
A NR spokesman added: “Those using the crossing get red and green signals to guide them. The crossing goes across a private road in farmland and serves a few houses. It has a number of registered users and other members of the public are not allowed to use it.”
(NB Generic library image – does not show Pleasants level crossing)
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