IRISH RAIL have warned commuters in Dublin to expect significant delays after a lorry was caught on CCTV driving through a barrier at a level crossing.
The national railway operator released footage from the level crossing at Sandymount, south Dublin on Thursday which shows a white lorry sat stationary over the rails at the centre of the crossing.
With the barrier descending ahead of the arrival of an oncoming train, the lorry driver accelerates out of the box onto the wrong side of the road and strikes the barrier on the way through.
The barrier appears to break and fall onto the pavement as the lorry drives away.
Expect significant delays to DART services due to damage to barrier at Serpentine level crossing. Remember never stop on a yellow box at a level crossing, because this can happen... pic.twitter.com/BgQihd5IWt
— Iarnród Éireann (@IrishRail) 6 December 2018
Taking to Twitter to share the shocking video, Iarnród Éireann wrote: "Expect significant delays to DART services due to damage to barrier at Serpentine level crossing.
"Remember never stop on a yellow box at a level crossing, because this can happen..."
The damaged barrier is being manually operated for the moment while Irish Rail awaits repair work, a spokesperson said.
Consequently there will be knock-on delays to DART services today.
Irish Rail added that the lorry driver may be prosecuted and/or pursued for the cost of the damage to the crossing.
"The driver can be prosecuted under road traffic legislation and we may also pursue him or her for the cost of the damage," it said.
