Person seriously injured as train hits van at level crossing
- Published
A black Mercedes van was struck by a train near Welshpool
One person has been seriously injured after a train hit a van on a level crossing in mid Wales.
The driver of a black Mercedes was airlifted to hospital after their vehicle was struck by a train heading from Shrewsbury to Welshpool.
They were flown by air ambulance to Royal Stoke University Hospital.
No train passengers were hurt in the crash where the single-track railway crosses a side-road near Trewern, north of Welshpool, just after 13:45 BST.
National Rail said disruption to services was expected until the end of Monday.
The incident happened on the singe-track Cambrian Line crossing
The ambulance service also sent three emergency ambulances and a rapid response vehicle to the collision between the van and what is thought to be the 13:27 service from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth.
British Transport Police said: "The driver of the vehicle suffered serious injuries and has been taken to hospital."
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service confirmed no train passengers were hurt.
All trains on the single-track Cambrian Line - between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth in Ceredigion and Pwllheli in Gwynedd - have been affected as the line is blocked.
The van was hit on a side road off the main A458 Welshpool to Shrewsbury road
Network Rail said rail replacement bus services were in operation and would serve all stations in both directions between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury.
The incident happened at an unmanned level crossing - monitored by Network Rail CCTV - where the Cambrian Line crosses on a side-road going to a dog training centre.
That track leads onto the main Welshpool to Shrewsbury road - the A458 - which has now reopened after it was initially shut between Buttington and Trewern.
Network Rail said: "We were made aware of an incident between Sutton Bridge Junction and Welshpool just before 14:00 today."
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch confirmed it had been notified of the incident and had sent an inspector to the scene to conduct a preliminary examination and gather evidence.