Car hits train at Highland railway level crossing
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Police investigations are continuing after a car hit a train at the Strathspey level crossing in Aviemore on Sunday afternoon.
The accident is understood to have occurred at around 2pm on the steam railway line at Dalfaber.
No one was seriously injured although the female driver was described as being left shaken by the accident.
It is understood that her car hit the side of the diesel train in what one person at the accident scene described as a 'side swipe'.
The white Ford car had suffered collision damage to its front.
Police were still at the scene a short time ago and checking out the box by the crossing which houses the CCTV footage taken at the site.
An eyewitness said that the level crossing warning lights were working at the time of the accident.
Local Highland councillor Bill Lobban, who lives in Aviemore, said that a level crossing barrier is urgently needed at the site.
He commented: "Well over 10 years ago The Office of Rail Regulation said that this level crossing was not capable of taking any further traffic and that was before the Spey Valley golf course opened.
"It needs to be upgraded now.
"The issue has dropped from people's attention as there have been no incidents in recent years but today's accident should sharpen people's minds."
A serious accident occurred at the level crossing in spring 2005 when a Toyota Micra being driven by local woman was hit by a train and taken 100 metres down the line.
She had to be cut from the wreckage and suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries.
A spate of near misses has been reported by motorists over the years.
Police and the railway company have also raised their concerns about drivers running the lights and ignoring warning bells.
A total of 74 homes are to be built by the Spey Valley Golf Club by Aviemore-based Davall Developments but work can not start until a planning condition is satisfied for the provision of a railway crossing barrier over the Strathspey steam rail line.
Councillor Lobban remarked: "It is not the Strathspey Steam Railway's fault; they were there long before any of the houses and I do have a wee bit of sympathy for the developers (bearing the cost) as their houses are the last to be built.
"All the developers with housing over the level crossing at Dalfaber should have been contributing financially to the cost of upgrading this crossing."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were made aware of a collision involving a car and a steam train on Dalfaber Drive in Aviemore shortly after 1.50pm.
“There were no injuries and enquiries to establish the full circumstances are ongoing.”
