A 65mph passenger train overshot its intended station stop by nearly two and a half miles in what rail accident investigators described as a "serious incident", it has been revealed.
Fortunately, no red signals were passed as the London to Hastings train encountered "poor adhesion conditions" as it went through Stonegate station in East Sussex.
Also a level crossing that the train went through operated normally before the service - operated by the Southeastern train company - came to a halt 2.45 miles beyond the station.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has begun an inquiry into the incident which took place at around 8.10am on November 8 on a train that had left Charing Cross station at 6.45am.
The RAIB said: "The train encountered poor adhesion conditions as its driver applied the brakes to make the scheduled stop at Stonegate station, while travelling at about 65 mph.
The train was unable to stop at Stonegate, and came to a stand some 2.45 miles beyond the station."
The RAIB went on: "No signals were passed at danger during the incident and a level crossing encountered by the train during the incident operated normally. The train driver contacted the signaller by radio to report the situation.
The investigation will identify the reasons for the train's inability to stop normally, and examine the arrangements for the servicing and maintenance of the rail head sanding equipment on the trains used on the Charing Cross-Hastings line, the information provided to the driver, the regime for rail head treatment, and other factors which may have affected the incident.
"The RAIB will publish a report, including any recommendations to improve safety, at the conclusion of its investigation."
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