EMERGENCY crews responding to the Copmanthorpe train crash put into action plans drawn up in light of the Selby rail disaster.

Firefighters who arrived at the scene last Monday were faced with the possibility of several casualties and acted quickly to ensure the safety of passengers.

The smash brought back memories of events in February 2001 when ten people were killed and many more injured after a passenger train and a goods train collided at Great Heck, further along the East Coast Mainline.

York delivery driver John Power, 54, a father-of-five, was killed in last week's accident after his Vauxhall Vectra left the road at Moor Lane and ended up on the line.

"There will have been some personnel who were involved in the Selby incident and it will have brought back memories for them," said Joe Calpin, station manager at York Fire Station.

"We do not deal with train crashes every day, but we need to know what to do - so there is a training regime to prepare for all eventualities."

Rail crews regularly set up carriages so that emergency staff can practice disaster situations.

Firefighters learn access and exit points on trains, how to isolate the power and avoid other hazards.

"When we arrived at the scene, the police and British Transport Police were already there and we liaised with officers to find out exactly what had happened," said Mr Calpin. "We had to ensure the scene was safe and check the occupants of the car and train to look for fatalities."

Two crews from Acomb, and one each from York and Tadcaster were sent to Copmanthorpe, along with heavy rescue equipment, used in large-scale crashes such as Selby.

A specialised lighting unit from Malton was also used to illuminate the dark trackside.

Firefighters used a heat-seeking camera to search for anyone who might have been thrown from the car.

Mr Calpin said: "Thermal imaging cameras pick up changes in temperature and are normally used to locate heat spots in buildings, but can also identify bodies."

The front end of the express train had been smashed by the impact and the first carriage derailed.

Firefighters put up ladders to gain access and worked with paramedics to find out whether any passengers were injured.

One watch commander from York Station who boarded the train described people being calm, but said some were shaking with shock.

Passengers were left on the train in warmth and safety while investigations were carried out.

After an hour-and-a-half, they were guided down ladders and across the short section of rail line to Fairfax Croft, where buses were waiting.

Any issues arising from the tragedy which will help in future crashes are built into training exercises.

Virgin workers organised the recovery of the train, while police teams retrieved the car parts and gathered forensic evidence.