An investigation is under way after a commuter train collided with a manned level crossing barrier in Norfolk on Friday evening .Rail services were severely disrupted and the B1111 at Larling was closed following the collision at the Harling Road station at Larling, near Thetford.

AN investigation is under way after a commuter train collided with a manned level crossing barrier in Norfolk on Friday evening .

Rail services were severely disrupted and the B1111 at Larling was closed following the collision at the Harling Road station at Larling, near Thetford.

The collision involved the 15.52 East Midlands train service from Norwich to Liverpool Lime Street and took place at 4.20pm

None of the 70 passengers or staff on the train were injured. They said they felt a judder as the train came went the level crossing.

One passenger said: “I have travelled on this train a few times and it has never stopped here before.”

The train was travelling slowly when it struck the barrier, and the passenger added: “It is scary to think what would have happened if the train had been going at full speed.”

A Network Rail spokesman described the situation as unusual, and said: “The train came into contact with the level crossing barrier. A full investigation is under way to find out how it came about.

“The investigation will look into whether it was human error, a mechanical error or failure to the system.”

The East Midlands train suffered slight damage. The incident is being investigated by Network Rail and the Rail Accident Investigation Bureau,

Services along the west bound line had returned to normal by Saturday morning . Work was continuing to replace the level crossing barrier at Harling Road at the weekend.