JOHN CHOULES, 67, was killed yesterday when his Volvo car was hit by a train at an unmanned level crossing, writes Christian Wolmar. Four passengers on the train - travelling from Fenchurch Street, London, to Leigh-on-Sea, Essex - were hurt when five of the eight carriages were derailed at the Gardners crossing near Pitsea, Essex. A woman was detained in hospital.

Railtrack said the crash happened where the track crossed a private road and there was no automatic crossing. There were warning lights and a telephone, but drivers had to open the safety gates manually when a green light showed.