A PACKED commuter train came within feet of smashing into a tractor near Ely on Wednesday evening.
The 5.17pm Greater Anglia service running from London Liverpool Street to King’s Lynn was passing through the city when it was forced into an emergency stop to prevent it from colliding with a tractor at the Bedford level crossing, just off the A10.
According to a commuter who was on the train at the time, the driver described the incident to passengers as ‘very close’ and reported the incident to Network Rail immediately, before continuing the journey to King’s Lynn.
There were no reports of any injuries.
A spokesman for Network Rail said: “Yesterday evening the 17:07 Greater Anglia service to Kings Lynn was involved in a near miss with a tractor towing a trailer at Bedford user-worked level crossing, Ely.
“The service was delayed by five minutes to its destination. Network Rail will be in contact with the landowner to discuss safety at this level crossing.”
The crossing is not a public right of way and is operated by the landowner and a handful of authorised staff.
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