POLICE believe a car that was hit by a train in Tecoma this morning was deliberately dumped.
The collision, at 4.30am, caused disruption to train services along the Belgrave line leaving buses to replace trains during the morning peak hour.
Police are investigating the cause of the collision but believe the car was deliberately dumped and no one was in the car at the time.
Belgrave Police Sergeant Mick Hall said the car, a blue Ford, went over an embankment and through a line of bushes and trees before ending up on the train tracks near Glenfern Road.
Shortly afterwards, a city-bound train collided with the car and dragged it 30 metres, causing damage to the undercarriage of the train and destroying the car.
Emergency Services were on site shortly afterwards, including CFA crews from Upwey and Monbulk, and Belgrave police.
“There was a fair bit of damage and part of the car was jammed underneath – they couldn’t drive the train away without crunching the thing and causing thousands of dollars of damage,” Sgt Hall said.
“There was no occupant of the car – at the moment, we’re wondering if it was a deliberate act.”
A tow truck attempted to drag the car through the bush to clear the tracks.
The train tracks were finally cleared about 2pm and Metro Trains said that train services are now running per schedule in both directions, in time for the evening peak.
