Hundreds were injured and 31 died in the crash at Ladbroke Grove

Thames Trains admitted two breaches of health and safety law at London's Bow Street Magistrates' Court last month.

But the case was ruled to be too serious for sentencing by magistrates and was referred to the Old Bailey.

A train going through a red light at Ladbroke Grove in west London on 5 October, 1999, collided with a First Great Western Train.

A spokesman for the company announced on Friday the sentencing would take place on 18 and 19 March.

The prosecution is being brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) under two sections of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

No individual members of Thames Trains are being prosecuted by the HSE.

But a judge can impose unlimited fines on the company.

Great Western Trains Company Ltd was fined �1.5m after being prosecuted under the Act following the 1997 Southall rail crash in west London in which seven people died.