Man injured in train collision

Crash debris: Tractor was pushed half a mile up the track by train

A man is critically ill in hospital after the tractor he was driving was involved in a collision with a train at a crossing in County Antrim.

The accident happened near Ballinderry between Lisburn and Crumlin at about 1300 BST on Thursday.

The driver of the train suffered shock. No-one else was on the train which was being used in engineering work.

The agricultural contractor was attempting to cross the railway line at Carson's Lane near Ballinderry.

Engineering train was in collision with tractor on the line

It is an accommodation crossing built to allow a local farmer access to his land.

It is not open to the public and those using it must telephone Translink to seek permission to cross the tracks.

It is not clear at this stage if the man had used the phone.

As he tried to cross the line, his tractor and slurry tanker were struck by an engineering train travelling towards Ballinderry.

Ciaran Rogan: The tractor was at a crossing

It was carrying stones for track repairs and was travelling at up to 40 miles per hour.

It ripped away the cab of the tractor and pushed it, with the driver still inside, half a mile along the tracks.

Ciaran Rogan from Translink said: "The tractor went over on its side and the driver of the tractor, as I understand it, had to be cut out by the emergency services.

"The train was brought to a halt a little way up the line."