15/11/2004

One injured as train hits level crossing gate

Just nine days after the Ufton Nervet train derailment, one person has been injured in another accident at a level crossing.

This morning's incident occurred at around 9am when a packed Lincoln to Peterborough commuter train, which had 50 schoolchildren on board, ploughed into a gate at a manned level crossing in Rowston, Lincolnshire. But despite "wobbling" after the impact, the train remained on the tracks.

An air ambulance was quickly on the scene and transferred the injured person to Lincoln County Hospital. It has been reported that some of the schoolchildren were shaken by the incident.

Emergency services on the scene said it was sheer luck that there were no other casualties.

Passengers on the 8.04am service reported hearing a loud bang just before the train began to "wobble". The brakes were immediately applied and the train came to an abrupt halt.

British Transport Police have said that, while investigations were at an early stage, it appeared that human error was the cause of the accident. Both the train driver and the crossing operator have provided negative breathalyser tests after the accident.

Nine days ago, seven people were killed and 37 injured when a train derailed at Ufton Nervet, Berkshire. The "catastrophic derailment" occurred when the train smashed into a stationary car at an automatic level crossing.

(gmcg/sp)

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