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Passengers have been left stranded on a ‘boiling’ train after it reportedly collided with a van on a level crossing ‘at high speed’.
The train hit ‘an obstruction on the track’ at Lower Road in Teynham, Kent, at around 12:40pm, according to Southeastern Railway.
‘On the train home from Margate and it’s just hit a van head on,’ a passenger wrote on Facebook. ‘Sent it flipping.’
In another post, an eyewitness claimed the train was travelling at 90mph when the collision occurred.
The van reportedly caught fire following the ‘high speed’ crash.
An air ambulance and ambulance are in attendance at the scene.
Passengers stranded on the train quickly took to social media to alert Southeastern Railway of the hot conditions onboard.
‘Any chance you can turn on the AC?’ one passenger asked. ‘It’s getting boiling on this train.’
The train hit ‘an obstruction on the track’ at Lower Road in Teynham, Kent, according to Southeastern Railway
The van reportedly caught fire following the crash as the train was believed to have been travelling at 90mph
Passengers stranded on the train quickly took to social media to alert Southeastern Railway of the hot conditions onboard
Another wrote: ‘Are passengers going to be let off the train? The train is getting very warm and passengers are feeling unwell.’
‘A plan is being worked on to allow passengers to exit as soon as possible,’ Southeastern Railway replied. ‘However, we don’t have an exact time for when that will be.’
Thankfully, the train doors were opened just before 2pm this afternoon.
Images show that passengers were eventually dropped off at the nearby Sittingbourne Station where a firetruck and an ambulance could also be seen.
In a post on X, Southeastern Railway said they are ‘still waiting on confirmation of the severity of the incident’.
Disruption between Canterbury East and London Victoria is expected until 6pm.
In the meantime, replacement buses are running between Gillingham and Faversham as well as Sittingbourne and Sheerness.
‘Use your ticket at no extra cost on Fastrack buses between Ebbsfleet & Gravesend ,’ a spokesperson for Southeastern Railway advised.
Images show that passengers were eventually dropped off at the nearby Sittingbourne Station
A firetruck and an ambulance are also seen at the nearby railway station
Stranded passengers carry their luggage with them in the brutal weather conditions
Steve White, the Managing Director of Southeastern Railway, wrote on X: ‘The @Se_Railway is closed near Teynham following a train hitting a van on a level crossing’
Steve White, the Managing Director of Southeastern Railway, wrote on X: ‘The @Se_Railway is closed near Teynham following a train hitting a van on a level crossing.
‘Replacement buses are operating between Gillingham & Faversham and Sheerness & Sittingbourne.
‘We are working with the emergency services.’
MailOnline has contacted Southeastern Railway for comment.
South East Coast Ambulance Service and Kent Fire and Rescue Service have also been contacted for comment.
A spokesperson for Kent Police confirmed that they were called at 12.43pm ‘to a report of a collision involving a train and a van at a level crossing in Lower Road, Teynham’.
They continued: ‘Patrols are currently at the scene where they are assisting officers from the British Transport Police.
‘South East Coast Ambulance Service and Kent Fire and Rescue Service also attended.’
This is a breaking news story. More to follow.
