Train Smashes Into Car at Grove Ferry Level Crossing
A Southeastern train collided at slow speed with a broken-down Nissan Qashqai stuck on the Grove Ferry level crossing near Hersden this afternoon, sparking chaos and a major emergency response.
Thankfully, no one was injured in the crash shortly before 2 PM on September 27, 2024.
Emergency Crews Rush to Scene as Delays Mount
Emergency services arrived swiftly to assess the damage. Photos from the scene showed the badly damaged car stranded on the tracks beside the train carriage.
The smash caused major disruption to train services between canterbury/" title="Canterbury" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Canterbury West and Ramsgate. Southeastern confirmed numerous delays, cancellations, and reroutes via Dover Priory.
Grove Ferry Hill road was temporarily closed as authorities worked to clear the scene and deal with the incident.
Network Rail and Police Team Up to Clear Tracks
Network Rail Kent and Sussex issued an update at 4 PM: “We’re aware of a slow-speed collision between a train and a car at Grove Ferry level crossing. Thankfully there are no reported injuries, and our front-line responders are working with Kent Police and British Transport Police to remove the car from the crossing.”
By 4:45 PM, the car was safely removed. The line reopened at 5:20 PM but trains continued to run slowly, causing ongoing delays.
A Network Rail spokesperson said: “The power to the electrified third rail was switched off while our teams worked with police to safely remove the car and assess the damage. We expect some delays as services return to normal.”
Repairs to Continue Over the Weekend
Network Rail confirmed repair work on the crossing would continue throughout the weekend to fully restore the road and track.
Passengers affected by the disruption were thanked for their patience, though rail commuters are advised to check service updates as delays could persist.
