Failures by the driver, platform staff and the guard are to blame for the Lewes train crash, according to a report.

The Health and Safety Executive report into the smash, which derailed a passenger train travelling from London Victoria to Hastings, blamed human error. But the HSE says there are no plans to prosecute the driver or rail firm Connex.

The driver of the train, which was carrying 12 passengers, passed a red signal before hitting an empty train travelling from Seaford to Brighton on October 18 last year. The report reads: "This was the result of human error. Both the signalling and braking systems have been tested and no evidence of any malfunction has been found. The signal involved had not previously been passed at danger."

However, the HSE praised the prompt actions of the signalman on duty at Lewes, who put out a "general stop" message within seconds of realising a collision was imminent. The report explains how a member of staff on the platform was distracted by passengers asking for train information.

He said he did not give a signal to the guard, but the guard of the passenger train said he did receive a hand signal and gave the driver two rings on the bell to send the train on its way. He did not notice the "OFF" indicator on the platform was blank, indicating that the signal was still red.

The 40-year-old driver, who qualified three years ago, had seen signal LW3 at danger as the train came into the platform. Moments later he put the master switch of a security device, the Driver's Reminder Appliance, into neutral. He should have activated it but followed out-of-date guidelines.

On receiving the signal from the guard he pulled out of the station, checking behind him. By the time he looked forward again the cab had passed the signal and the collision happened a few seconds later.

David Ewart of Connex South Central said: "Connex's top priority is safety. We have already acted fully on the results of the railway industry's formal internal inquiry that took place after the low speed collision.

"The railway inquiry showed that all safety devices were functioning properly and that the primary cause of the accident was driver error. There were security failings in the train dispatch procedures by station staff and in managing the safety functions at Lewes station, all of which have been addressed."

He said the driver had been completely reassessed on his competency and was being regularly supervised under a personal assessment plan. Lewes MP Norman Baker said more needed to be done to improve safety on Britain's railways.

He said: "Nationally we need to have more investment in train protection systems and better signalling, which will mean more trains on the track and better safety." The report concluded that there was insufficient evidence to provide a "realistic prospect of a conviction".

That angered Shelley Atlas of the Brighton Line Commuters Group. She said: "When they say X number of signals are passed at danger we say there is not one that is acceptable. It should never happen, and each time it does a full inquiry should take place and something should be done immediately."

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