IT was the incredible footage of a “near miss” between a train and a bus that shocked thousands of people online.

People on a Southampton bus waited in horror as a freight train closed in on their marooned vehicle – with their driver appearing to ignore the danger lights and warning sirens.

The astonishing video captured on a mobile phone showed the number 11 City Red bus across the hatched yellow box in Canute Road.

The train driver, despite repeatedly sounding his horn as he makes his way from Southampton’s docks, was forced to hit the brakes and the goods train grinds to a halt – just feet away from the passengers as they helplessly looked on.

Now the Daily Echo understands the driver no longer works for the bus company. But he will undergo a driver awareness course following a joint investigation by bosses from service operators First UK Bus and British Transport Police.

The driver has accepted an offer to attend the £93 course according to police. The session is held in partnership by British Transport Police and the AA.

As reported last October, bus chiefs said they were “extremely concerned” with the footage.

Transport officers launched a safety awareness campaign with Network Rail this week.

Their video promoting the campaign, which can be viewed on our website, captured shocking footage of drivers and pedestrians dicing with death at level crossings – including one pedestrian narrowly missing a train by a split second.

A spokesman for British Transport Police said: “I can confirm the man involved with the incident was offered a driver awareness course, which he accepted. That is the action we have taken against him.”

A First UK Bus spokesman said: “At First we have an industry-leading driver training programme, which particularly focuses on the safety of our customers and our staff.

“We were therefore extremely concerned and disappointed about the incident in October.”

David Richards, AA DriveTech director, said its Level Crossing Awareness Scheme, which it runs on behalf of British Transport Police, helps drivers understand the dangers and potential consequences of ignoring signals at level crossings.

He said: “The ultimate goal of the course is to change the behaviour of the participating drivers so they do not take risks with their own lives, and the lives of others, at level crossings.

“The trainers will also help participants improve their knowledge of level crossings so they understand the signals and know how to drive safely through them.”