TWO people could have been killed today after dashing across the train tracks at Ipswich station in front of a moving freight train.Their actions, which they could face prosecution for, have been blasted by British Transport Police and staff at the station.

TWO people could have been killed today after dashing across the train tracks at Ipswich station in front of a moving freight train.

Their actions, which they could face prosecution for, have been blasted by British Transport Police and staff at the station.

The drama happened when the man and woman got off an Anglia train packed with commuters travelling from London Liverpool Street at around 8.45am.

They jumped four feet from platform four and dashed across the railway line in front of a freight train, which had just started moving.

Although only moving at around 10mph the driver of the 130 tonne locomotive had to slam on his breaks to be able to stop in time.

The pair then ran down some steps, through a fence and then through a gap between houses in Gippeswyk Road.

Edward Mann, who is train crew depot manager at Ipswich said that the two would have been killed had the train hit them.

He said: "They do not realise how lucky they were.

"You only get hit by a locomotive once."

Mr Mann said the driver was experienced and had carried on with his work but had been left a bit shaken by the incident.

A train of that size can take around 50 – 100 yards to stop even going at the slow speed that it was.

Some of the freight trains can be pulling loads of more than 1,000 tonnes.

Mr Mann said the driver had spotted the pair heading towards the tracks as they left the train.

He said: "It was very lucky that he saw them as he would not have been able to stop on time.

"The railway area is a dangerous place to trespass or take short cuts.

A spokesman for British Transport Police said that the pair could face prosecution for trespassing on the railway line and penalties can carry a prison sentence or up to a £1,000 fine.

The woman is described as being aged around 20 and 5ft 10in tall. She was wearing a long Camel-type coat and brown hat.

Her male companion was around the same age and wore an orange coat, possibly an upmarket fleece. He is about 6ft tall and is thought to have had dark hair.