A MALVERN man who worked near the site of a fatal train crash has said it was an accident waiting to happen.
A First Great Western service travelling from Here-ford to London Paddington smashed into a van carrying farm workers on Monday, killing three people.
Five others were injured, three seriously, when it collided with the bus at Pools Crossing, Charlton, between Pershore and Evesham.
Investigators have said no-one used the telephone by the side of the unmanned crossing to check whether any trains were coming.
Student Alex Walker has worked for Upton-based Clive's Fruit Farm on land near the site of the crash. He said he has seen people cross the line without using the phone on many occasions.
By coincidence, the 20-year-old was also supposed to get on the train to visit a friend in London, but slept through his alarm and missed it.
None of the 150 passengers on the train, who included Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff and Rt Rev John Oliver, the Bishop of Here-ford, were seriously hurt.
However, Malvern passengers waiting for the 13.02 Hereford to London train after the crash had to find alternative services as it was re-scheduled to set off from Moreton-in-Marsh, east of the crash site.
A return service later that day was also forced to terminate in Moreton. The changes caused disruption and delay for First Great Western passengers who were forced to find alternative routes.
Claire Barrett, of Central Trains, said disruption to its services had been minimal, but added two extra trains were laid on at Worcester.
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