Driver killed as train hits car on crossing

A man was killed today when a 100mph train struck a car on a level crossing.

The accident happened at Swainsthorpe in Norfolk, about five miles south of Norwich.

Police said the car was stationary when the train went over the crossing, killing the motorist.

British Transport Police Inspector Chris Connell said: "There is a confirmed fatality in the vehicle. The train is safe and upright and there are not thought to be any injuries to those on board."

The train involved was the 6.22am Colchester to Norwich service, run by the One train company.

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, and that except in exceptional circumstances, there should be no new level crossings built.

The crossing was an automatic half-barrier type that was controlled by lights.

It was the scene of a crash in November 2005 when a car driver was killed by a passenger train. In November 2004, seven people were killed when a train hit a car that stopped at a level crossing at Ufton Nervet in Berkshire.

Network Rail has started an investigation into today's crash.

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