"There are hundreds of level crossings in use on Britain's railways and there have been very few incidents at these crossings, " a spokesman said.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Axing crossings 'not practical'

In my view privatisation was a significant factor in the chaos that there is but the real reason is the under-investment in the railways and the quadrupling of public investment in the railways over the next few years, all as part of this new settlement for the future, the quadrupling of that investment will in my view be fantastically important.

BBC: NEWS | Programmes | Breakfast with Frost | Economy is key battleground