Just hours before a fatal collision at Fishbourne, a motorist had a lucky escape from an almost identical crash.

A Vauxhall was believed to have skidded on ice into the level crossing at Barns Green, near Billingshurst, and then stalled in the path of the 6.59am Bognor to London Bridge service.

Before the driver could re-start her vehicle the train approached, activating the half-barrier and trapping the car. She was able to flee the car moments before the collision.

Passengers felt a car grind beneath the wheels as it was pushed 500yds along the tracks before exploding in a ball of flame.

Passenger Will Barkes, of Pulborough, said: "I suddenly felt a jolt and it seemed something was under the train.

"I saw a flame ball go past the window and I could feel the heat through the glass. At the time I didn't know what it was."

Mr Barkes, a stockbroker in London, was travelling to work at the time of the crash and homeowners near the railway line felt vibrations.

Julie Chrzanowska, whose garden in Finians Field backs on to the railway line, was getting ready to take her five-year-old son to school.

She said: "I felt the house shake. I was in the bedroom and had a horrible vision of coming downstairs and finding a train had crashed into the garden."

Sergeant Jack Ioannou said no decision had been made about whether the car driver, who was taken to Crawley Hospital with minor injuries, would be charged with a criminal offence.

He said: "Early indications suggest the accident was caused by the bad weather."

The train was not derailed and the driver and passengers, who waited up to two-and-a-half hours on the train while emergency services made the scene safe, were not hurt.

Passengers were taken by coach to Billingshurst and Horsham stations to continue their journeys.

A bus shuttle was put on between Billingshurst and Horsham while the Chichester to Victoria service was diverted via Hove.

A spokesman for South Central said services were expected to return to normal late yesterday evening.

A Network Rail spokeswoman said: "The barriers were operating normally and the British Transport Police investigation is looking to establish how the car came to be on the crossing.

"The BTP is treating this as a road traffic accident.

"Level crossings are safe if they are used correctly.

"They have lights, an audible alarm and the barrier to ensure drivers have a warning."