A person has died following a collision between a van and a high-speed train at a level crossing in Kent, which triggered a dramatic fireball and significant disruption to rail services.
The incident occurred at approximately 12:45PM on Sunday in the rural hamlet of Tonge, located between Newington and Faversham.
The Southeastern Rail service, en route to London, struck the van on the line, sparking a large fire and halting train operations in the area, according to The Independent.
British Transport Police (BTP) confirmed the fatality shortly after arriving on the scene.
“Officers were called to the line in Tonge just after 12.45pm today (13 July) following reports of a train striking a van,” a BTP spokesperson said in a statement, via Metro. “Paramedics also attended, however sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is currently being investigated.”
Network Rail, which manages rail infrastructure across the UK, said the van was on the tracks outside the village when the collision occurred. A spokesperson for the agency added: “Police are on site and working to resolve the incident.”
Footage circulating online shows large flames erupting in the grassy area near the railway line as emergency services arrive. Smoke could be seen billowing from the crash site, although the train itself appears to have remained upright, with no obvious external damage visible in photographs from the scene.
Passengers onboard the train were left stranded for a period following the collision and began contacting Southeastern Rail via social media, urging staff to open the train doors as internal temperatures reportedly rose during the delay.
In an initial public statement, Southeastern Rail posted on X: “We have received reports of a train hitting an obstruction on the track at Teynham. We are still awaiting confirmation of the severity of the incident. Services between Canterbury East & Victoria are expected to be disrupted.”
The company later issued an update, confirming the severity of the disruption: “A train has collided with an obstruction on the track at Teynham blocking the line. Replacement buses are running between Gillingham, Faversham & Sittingbourne, Sheerness.”
Network Rail also issued a statement warning that the effects of the collision would be felt for the remainder of the day. “Trains running between Newington / Sheerness-on-Sea and Sittingbourne / Faversham will be cancelled or revised,” the agency stated.
As of Sunday evening, investigation efforts remain ongoing, and authorities have yet to confirm the identity of the deceased. Emergency crews and transport officials are continuing work at the scene to determine the circumstances that led to the crash.