Car hits railway level crossing causing delays

Rail services were disrupted after a car crashed into level crossing barriers in West Sussex, with trains between Barnham and Horsham facing delays and alterations.

Southern said services in both directions were affected after the incident, with trains to Portsmouth and Fratton cancelled. Greater Thameslink Railway (GTR) reported "significant disruption" but said the route had reopened.

Sussex Police said officers were aware a car had hit a level crossing barrier at Billingshurst railway station, causing damage at about 09:10 BST.

Network Rail said repairs had been carried out and the level crossing was operational again.

A Network Rail spokesman said: "Our signalling and response staff worked quickly to ensure that trains could continue to run over the crossing at lower speeds.

"Our teams worked to replace the damaged barrier and test the equipment, and the level crossing is now operating as normal."

A GTR spokesman said if any vehicle had been trapped inside the crossing, an obstacle detection safety system would not have released trackside signals to allow trains to pass through.

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