Rail services were disrupted and the Ferry Road level crossing closed for several hours when a person died after being struck by a train coming into Rye on Monday, February 5.
Emergency services were called to the scene at around 10am, after reports of a casualty under a train between the level crossing and the pedestrian crossings across the railway by the Gibbet Marsh car park. The train involved was the 9:48am Rye to Ashford International.
Charlie Harkness saw what was happening. "A fire engine racing into the car park was the first sign of the accident and the pedestrian crossings over the railway line were soon closed to the public. Vehicles from Sussex Police, British Transport Police, South East Ambulance and East Sussex Fire and Rescue were based in the car park and on the Winchelsea Road. For pedestrians and motorists it meant a lengthy diversion around town for many hours."
A spokesman for British Transport Police told Rye News: "Officers were called to the line near Rye railway station just before 10am today following reports of a casualty on the tracks. Paramedics also attended however sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner."
The level crossing opened early in the afternoon, and the first train able to leave Rye was the 2:48pm to Ashford International.
The pedestrian crossings at Gibbet Marsh have been the scene of a number of tragedies over the years, most recently in June 2021 when a 36-year-old man from Northiam died. There are notices on the approach to both crossings from the Samaritans.
