RAIL bosses describe an incident at Poole’s level crossing, which caused twenty passengers to be evacuated from a late night train, as ‘mindless vandalism’.

Shocked passengers were escorted from the train on safety grounds after it ploughed into a bicycle that had been left on the town centre level crossing.

The collision, which happened shortly after the Weymouth to Eastleigh train left Poole railway station, brought all services on the line to a standstill for the rest of the night.

Witnesses saw flames and sparks flying into the air following the collision, which Network Rail says was caused by “mindless vandalism.”

Rail bosses say it was lucky no-one was seriously injured, and British Transport Police have launched an investigation into how the bicycle ended up on the line.

A National Rail spokesman said: “This incident could have been much more serious, and it is sheer luck that nobody was hurt.

“Mindless vandalism like this costs us money that could be spent on making services better and leaves passengers rightly upset about delays and disruption to their journeys.

“I would appeal to anyone who thinks this sort of stunt is funny to think again.

“Anyone who has information on the incident should contact the British Transport Police.”

Fire crews from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) also attended the incident, which took place around 11pm on Wednesday evening.

Poole shopper Peter Carter-Jones, speaking from the level crossing yesterday, told the Echo: “It pretty hard to understand how a bicycle could have accidentally been left on the crossing.

“It is probably some drunken idiots who think this sort of thing is funny. It is really lucky no-one was hurt in this.”

Another resident, who asked not to be named, said: “People just don’t think about the consequences of their actions. But I think any town centre crossing will always have problems like this."

Meanwhile, police spokesman confirmed: “Twenty people on board a train had to be taken off after a pushbike left on the track had been hit by a train. No-one was hurt.”

Poole level crossing has been the scene of numerous near misses over the years, an it is no secret that Network Rail would like to close the crossing.

While Network Rail has embarked on a programme of phasing out level crossing across the country during the past few years, no firm decision on Poole level crossing's future has yet been announced.

In December, last year, the Echo revealed Network Rail had written to the Borough of Poole to announce it intended to close the pedestrian route at an unspecified future date.

In that letter, a response to the town centre core strategy review, the company said: "Current misuse of the crossing (both deliberate and accidental) by either swinging or climbing the barriers or people becoming trapped is posing a safety risk."

The letter read: "Ideally we will be looking to close this crossing as this will provide the safest solution in combatting the issues mentioned."