Commuters were left shaken after their train narrowly escaped ploughing into a tractor on the line.
Rail operator First Great Eastern today hit out at tractor drivers who they claim are putting lives in danger on the railway.
Services were suspended after the driver of the train, running on the Wickford to Southminster line, was sent home in shock and had to be replaced.
A Great Eastern spokesman called for farmers to be more responsible after the train, travelling between Fambridge and Althorne, narrowly avoided collision with a farm vehicle yesterday afternoon.
The incident comes just weeks after more than 200 passengers were thrown from their seats when their train smashed into a tractor on a level crossing at Hogwell Farm, near South Woodham Ferrers.
Then, the front of the tractor was almost sheared off and the train carriages were rocked violently as the train skidded to a halt. More than £500,000 damage was done.
Yesterday's incident, at 12.30pm, saw a tractor cross the line at Little Hayes when the Southminster-bound service passed.
A First Great Eastern spokesman said: "We are very cross that tractors continue cutting across the track. One day there will be a nasty accident that will cause a fatality."
Published Tuesday October 29, 2002
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