Man charged over police chase after alleged train near miss at Hamilton station

Police allege a stolen car narrowly missed a city-bound passenger train after its driver careered through boom gates and onto tracks during a police pursuit.

A man has been charged with a range of offences after allegedly driving his car onto the inner-city Newcastle rail corridor, narrowly missing a passenger train, during a pursuit on February 9, 2023. Picture: Supplied.

A man has been arrested inside the rail corridor after allegedly driving a stolen vehicle onto tracks at Hamilton and narrowly missing a passenger train during a police chase.

The Wickham man, 35, is facing a string of charges after being taken into custody about 100 metres from the Hamilton train station about 9.30pm on Thursday.

Police allege he drove a stolen red Holden Cruze into a Warners Bay business about 5.30pm on Thursday before stealing a nearby Mini sedan after its owner had briefly left it unattended after running into the business.

The man was allegedly involved in an altercation with an employee of the Shell service station at Cardiff before an off-duty officer saw the Mini on Donald St, Hamilton about 9.30pm.

Police allege highway patrol officers caught up with the Mini on Donald St and a short chase began before the car turned into Beaumont St.

A man has been charged with a range of offences after allegedly driving his car onto the inner-city Newcastle rail corridor, narrowly missing a passenger train, during a pursuit on February 9, 2023. Picture: Supplied.

However, the boom gates were down at the level crossing and traffic was banked up.

Police allege the man drove the Mini onto the wrong side of Beaumont St and onto the railway line, narrowly missing a city-bound passenger train.

The Beaumont St gates at Hamilton where a man allegedly drove a car through during a police pursuit. Picture: Google Maps.

The car was driven about 50 metres west along the tracks before the car became stuck and a short foot chase ended in the man’s arrest.

He was taken to Newcastle police station and charged with 11 offences including take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, unlicensed driving, larceny, and refusing to undergo an oral fluid test.

He was refused bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court on Friday.