Car and train narrowly miss at Ufton Nervet crash site

An investigation has started after a train and car narrowly missed colliding at a level crossing where seven people died in a derailment in 2004.

The incident happened at Ufton level crossing, Berkshire, between Theale and Aldermaston stations, on 4 September.

At about 12:30 BST a train from London Paddington passed at about 60 mph (100 kmph) while the barriers were raised.

A car on the unclassified road, which runs over the level crossing, had to stop suddenly to avoid a collision.

The road traffic warning lights were not showing.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch said the line between Southcote Junction in Reading and Westbury had just reopened after engineering works and the level crossing was being controlled locally.

It said the person controlling the crossing had not received any instruction to lower the barriers before the train arrived.

The incident happened on the same stretch of track at Ufton Nervet where a train derailed after hitting a car parked on tracks at the level crossing in November 2004. The car driver, train driver and five passengers died in the crash.

Another 37 people on board the Paddington to Plymouth train were seriously injured.