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A c2c train driver had to be taken to hospital yesterday after he thought he saw someone walk into the path of the train he was driving between Tilbury and East Tilbury.

Believing that he might have killed someone, the driver was forced to stop the 3.50pm Pitsea-bound train and search underneath it for the suspected victim's remains.

British Transport Police later arrived at the scene to investigate, but no evidence of a fatality was found.

The train was then moved to East Tilbury where the passengers alighted and the search continued, again turning up no signs that anybody had been struck.

The train driver, who was said to be very shaken up, had to be taken to hospital to be treated for shock.The drama meant that c2c customers faced disruption as replacement buses had to be put on between Grays and Pitsea via Tilbury and Stanford-le-Hope while the line was closed.

Mystery now surrounds the incident but it is thought that the driver must have spotted some trespassers on the track as he approached.

The Rail Safety and Standards Board have now issued a statement urging people not to trespass on the railway lines.

Spokesperson Matthew Clements said: "Trespassing on the railway is extremely serious, and a criminal offence. Trespassers put themselves in mortal danger and the consequences can be tragic.

"There is also an impact on train drivers - even in near-misses such as this. If a driver sees someone on the line, they know there is virtually nothing they can do, and the mental trauma this causes can affect both their work and home life."

c2c spokesperson Rebecca Richardson said: "The train driver was very shaken and taken to hospital. Searches continued after the train was moved but found no evidence of a fatality.

"We're speculating that there were trespassers on the track which the driver had seen but didn't actually strike but as I say, it's pure speculation. I'm not sure we will know exactly what happened."

3:19pm Thursday 27th March 2008

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