A SECOND rail crossing incident has happened in the Whitland area, just a month after a hay lorry was in collision with a train at the nearby Henllan Amgoed.

Last Sunday, a lorry collided with the rail level crossing barriers at St John Street, damaging them.

No one was injured.

A British Transport Police (BTP) spokesman said: "At 6.10pm on Sunday, January 22, BTP was informed by Network Rail that a vehicle had collided with the barriers.

"BTP contacted Dyfed-Powys Police, whose officers quickly arrived at the scene and the road was closed.

"At no time was the vehicle obstructing the railway.

"An investigation has been launched into the incident."

A spokesman for Network Rail said two of the four crossing barriers were damaged beyond repair, with replacement parts being sourced.

He added: "A signaller was based nearby and was able to "caution" direct the trains across, the train services haven't been too badly disrupted, if at all."

Whitland mayor Vivienne Morris said: "Luckily nobody's hurt and no train was involved."

She added: "We're in the news again, for the wrong reasons."

The January 22 incident follows the 9.10am Milford Haven to Manchester Piccadilly Arriva Trains service slamming into a lorry towing two hay trailers at the Henllan Amgoed railway crossing, less than a mile west of Whitland, on December 19.

It was described as "a miracle" that none of the 59 passengers on the train were seriously injured.

The driver of the lorry was arrested by police after the collision.

He has not yet been charged with any offence and is to reappear at Haverfordwest police station on February 14.

A preliminary investigation by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) of the British Transport Police has found that the lorry, which was carrying straw bales and towing a similarly loaded trailer, had stopped on the level crossing, with the crossing barrier on the exit side lowered in front of it.

The train, a two-coach diesel multiple unit, had been approaching the crossing at about 68mph, but an emergency brake application had reduced the speed to about 41mph when the collision occurred.

The train pushed the lorry about 80 metres along the railway.

The RAIB statement added: "The investigation will identify the exact sequence of events that led to the accident.

"It will also include consideration of the layout of the level crossing, the actions of the lorry driver, the factors which caused the lorry to stop on the crossing and the crashworthiness of the Class 175 unit involved in the collision.

"The RAIB's investigation is independent of any investigation by the police or safety authority.

"The RAIB will report on its findings, including any recommendations to improve safety, at the conclusion of its investigation."