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Audio: Nick Lloyd, from
Margate, was travelling on the train when the incident happened

Nick also took this photo
shortly after leaving the train

The train – the 4.50am Ramsgate-London Charing Cross
service – was one of the first of the day, with only a handful of
passengers on board.

It struck the car – a black Vauxhall Astra – at around 40mph,
pushing the vehicle down the tracks.

The train was damaged but did not derail and there are no
reports of any injuries to passengers.

The car was empty and British Transport Police (BTP), which
attended the crash alongside Kent Fire and Rescue Service and South
East Coast Ambulance Service, are now investigating why it was
abandoned.

The crash caused major disruption to Southeastern Mainline and
High Speed services, with passengers warned to expect disruption
for much of the day.

Specialist lifting equipment was used to remove the
train. Buses had been replacing trains between Ramsgate
and Canterbury West and between Ramsgate and Dover Priory.

A spokesman for Network Rail said the crossing was an automatic
half-barrier crossing, and that Foads Lane – which crosses over the
railway line – was in full use before the crash.