The motorist escaped without injury but Mr White said the collision would cost Tasrail about $50,000.

“It’s under investigation but from what we can see, the car driver simply hasn’t complied with the stop signs at that site and has been hit by the train,” Mr White said. 

“Fortunately for the car driver he was able to walk away, but for our train driver he's suffered a trauma incident and injury, and it also brings back memories for all of our other drivers who've been involved in these sorts of incidents in the past.”

Tasrail operations supervisor David Payne, who has driven locomotives for 37 years, said incidents such as the one at Railton were all too common and could be easily avoided.

“I come to work to do my job and I want to go home at the end of my shift intact physically and mentally,” Mr Payne said.

“I don't like the fact that somebody's putting my life, my safety and my family's future in jeopardy by stupid reckless behaviour.”

Mr Payne said train drivers were too often put in uncompromising positions by motorists failing to comply with road rules.

“When we know something's about to happen we put the brakes into emergency and we just have to sit there until the train stops, that's all we can do.

“We'd give anything to be able to avoid an accident like that, but the car driver is the one that can avoid the accident, not the train driver.”

Tasrail records about 100 near misses at level crossing each year.