The driver of the train involved in the Lewes rail crash passed through a red signal after a safety warning device was not used.

He is now facing disciplinary action following Monday night's accident. The driver and other members of staff could face the sack.

Train operator Connex confirmed last night the Victoria to Hastings train passed a "danger" signal before colliding with an empty train travelling from Seaford to Brighton.

Ten people were on the Hastings train, one of whom suffered whiplash. The incident came less than a fortnight after the Paddington disaster which left 31 people dead.

In a statement last night, Connex said: "The initial indications from the investigation into the cause

of the Lewes accident,

when two Connex trains collided at low speed outside the station, are that the Victoria to Hastings train passed a signal at danger when pulling out of the platform and that a safety device to remind the driver to check the signals was not used."

The joint Railtrack and Connex investigation team found the in-cab safety systems of AWS (automatic warning system) and the Drivers' Reminder Appliance were both functioning correctly.

Had the reminder appliance been turned on it would have prevented the driver passing through the red light.

Connex refused to reveal whether the driver or another member of staff was responsible for the safety device being off.

The driver had three years' experience and had only started work two hours before the accident happened, the statement said.

The Train Protection Warning System which is being piloted by Connex on its Tonbridge to Hastings line would have prevented the accident.

Fault

The statement said there was no history of the Lewes signal being passed at danger.

Connex issued the statement after rail investigators and safety experts had spent all day at Lewes inspecting the damaged trains yesterday.

Dave Ewart, media relations manager for Connex SouthCentral, said "We have in-built procedures for dealing with incidents of this kind."

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott told the House of Commons there had probably been a number of people at fault.

He said: "The initial report from the Health

and Safety Executive indicates the train left Lewes station against a red stop light and although the signaller at Lewes put out an emergency General Stop call via the Cab Secure Radio network he was unable to prevent a collision.

"The likeliest explanation is that a number of errors by platform staff at Lewes and the train crew combined together resulted in a signal being passed at danger."

Norman Baker, Lewes MP and Liberal Democrat consumer spokesman, praised the emergency services for their professionalism at the crash site.

He added: "The fact is that two trains crashed and my constituents will be

horrified to know of 643 times in the last year when trains around the country have passed red signals."

He asked Mr Prescott when systems would be in place to ensure no train passed red signals across the country.

He also urged the Deputy Prime Minister to take measures to ensure train drivers did not override safety warnings in their cab.

Mr Prescott expressed his appreciation of the work done by the Sussex emergency services.

He stressed his determination to introduce measures aimed at preventing all SPADS (Signals Passed At Danger).

But he added that in 70 per cent of the 643 SPADS, the trains did not go more than 50 yards beyond the signal.

He stressed train drivers must not be complacent when signals were on yellow, which could mean a red light ahead.

But he said in some instances drivers had to isolate safety devices which had malfunctioned to allow the train to continue its journey.

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