RAIL lines between Swindon and Gloucester remain closed today after a Land Rover was hit by a train, killing a 60-year-old man.

Emergency services were called yesterday at 3.10pm when the vehicle was hit at a level crossing at Frampton Mansell in Gloucestershire by the 13.36 Paddington to Cheltenham service.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

Today replacement bus services are running as the line remains closed.

Tickets being accepted on Stagecoach buses and CrossCountry services.

Network Rail (NR), which manages Britain's rail infrastructure, said people must use a phone at the site and get permission from a signaller to cross the tracks.

A safety assessment of the crossing in May last year highlighted "deliberate misuse or user error", a "low sighting time" and the number of people using it as being key risks to train drivers.

It is unclear whether the man requested clearance to cross the line, but residents told a passenger on the train the car had broken down on the track.

Gavin Garthwaite, a customer relations manager, was on board the train when it stopped suddenly after a "massive thud".

Mr Garthwaite, 30, told the Press Association: "We didn't really know what happened until about 15 or 20 minutes after it actually happened.

"We felt this massive thud but it was an instant stop as well. We felt the impact and the train came to a sudden halt a second or two afterwards.

"Then there was a tannoy announcement just to ask if there were any train drivers or members of staff on the train if they could come forward.

"The initial reaction was maybe the driver had had some sort of heart attack or something to cause him to stop."

But after looking out of a window Mr Garthwaite spotted the car, thought to be an old-style Land Rover, partially trapped under the front of the train.

Police and GWR staff helped passengers from the train before they took refuge at a local pub.

Mr Garthwaite said residents estimated the car was dragged 800m and that the driver, thought to be a local landowner, had broken down on the track.

A dog is also thought to have been killed in the incident.

Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact British Transport Police by calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 311 of 07/02 or send a text to BTP on 61016.