A man and woman have escaped injury after a train hit their car in Galway earlier today.
The collision occured at a user operated level crossing at Murrough, on the outskirts of Galway city shortly before 1pm.
The two occupants of the car and the 170 passengers on the 9.30am train from Dublin Houston to Galway were uninjured according to a spokesman for Iarnród Éireann.
Initial indications show a member of the public left the gates open after using them, the spokesman said, adding "a car drove on to the line, and the passengers - a man and woman - saw the train coming towards them so attempted to reverse the car. The train hit the front of the car".
The spokesman said the incident stresses the importance of using user operated level crossings correctly.
Some services were disrupted as a result of the incident but are now running to schedule according to Iarnród Éireann.