600 escape commuter train crash

A train carrying more than 600 commuters crashed into the buffers at Charing Cross station today.

Many passengers were standing but, amazingly, there were no injuries.

The 8.28 from Dartford was arriving at platform two when the incident happened. The eightcarriage train and buffers were damaged.

A spokeswoman for operator South Eastern Trains said: "One of our trains hit the buffers but there were no injuries."

Network Rail, which is responsible for rail infrastructure, launched an immediate investigation.

"It was a very low speed collision," said a spokesman. "The train was travelling at between two and five miles an hour."

Test are being carried out to see if a greasy track was to blame. The driver was tested for both drink and drugs - a standard procedure after an accident. The outcome is not yet known.

Currently only two of the station's eight platforms are in use and engineers are working to repair the damage before the evening rush-hour.

The incident involved a sliding-door train. Had it been one of the old slamdoor Mark 1 stock, some commuters would almost certainly have been injured as many open the doors and step off before the train has stopped.