Level crossing death investigated

The accident involved a car and a sleeper train

Police have been trying to establish what led to a crash on a level crossing in which an elderly car driver died.

Robert Lindsay, 77, from Livingston, was killed when his vehicle was struck by a train on the Edinburgh to Glasgow Central line on Tuesday.

The crash happened at 2200 GMT at Kirknewton level crossing in West Lothian, British Transport Police said.

A force spokesman said the crossing was found to be in working order and the incident appeared to be a "tragic accident."

The train was carrying empty coaches which were due to be used for the sleeper service from Edinburgh Waverley to London Euston. The train driver was not hurt.

The integrity of the level crossing was checked in the early hours of this morning and everything was found to be working correctly Inspector John Harrington British Transport Police

The collision happened on the quieter Edinburgh to Glasgow Central via Shotts line, rather than the main Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen Street route.

ScotRail said that some services were affected for a time.

A spokesman said Mr Lindsay's family were "distraught at their tragic loss".

Inspector John Harrington said: "This appears to be a tragic accident. Although our investigation is at an early stage it appears that the vehicle involved was already on the track as the train approached.

"Our enquiries are clearly focused on how that came to be.

"The integrity of the level crossing was checked in the early hours of this morning and everything was found to be working correctly."

'Near misses'

Bristow Muldoon, convener for the Scottish Parliament's local government and transport committee, and MSP for Livingston, expressed concern at the rising number of incidents on level crossings.

He said: "The level crossing at Kirknewton is the one with the highest level of cars passing it at danger in the whole of Scotland.

"We have got to see what happened last night and see if it fits any pattern of any previous incidents or near misses."

The Labour MSP added that Network Rail was in discussions with the local council to remove the level crossing and replace it with either an underpass or a bridge.