POLICE are searching for a vehicle which was being chased by officers before crashing through the barriers at the Berwick crossing.
Train services have been stopped between Lewes and Eastbourne following the incident which has seen an extensive amount of damage to the train line barriers.
Sussex Police has told Hailsham News: “The road either side of Berwick railway station remains closed after a car collided with the level crossing barriers shortly after 11.30am on Thursday 16 May.
The vehicle – a blue Alfa Romeo Stelvio V6 – was being pursued northbound by police as it was believed to be stolen and on cloned plates.
Following the collision, it made off from the scene without stopping, and attempts to locate it are ongoing.
Anyone with any information about the incident, or anyone who sees the vehicle, is asked to report it online or call 101, quoting serial 481 of 16/05.”
A spokesperson for Network Rail said: “Shortly after 11:30 we received reports of damage to a level crossing at Berwick station, after a car had driven through the crossing barriers. A train then struck one of the two damaged barriers which had been knocked onto the track.
“No-one on board the train was injured and customers were able to get off the train, with GTR taking care of them and arranging alternative transport to get them to their destination.
“Network Rail worked with Sussex Police to put a road closure in place while our engineers worked to remove the damaged barriers and also repair a damaged cable at the crossing.”
A Southern Rail Spokesperson said: “We’ve had buses running to keep people on the move and we’re now working hard to get trains running to time again. We’d urge any passengers whose journeys have been delayed by 15 minutes or more to claim Delay Repay compensation from our website. This is also where we have the latest service information https://www.southernrailway.com/service-updates/service-updates?uq=638514560841880000#INC2D2F8942C8CC48EA9DA3A1FFA4AF0D7E“
