All our new trains are fitted with train protection warning system and we are committed to fitting the system to the remainder of the fleet as soon as possible

Olivier Brousse Connex managing director

Managing director Olivier Brousse said: "Despite our efforts, we are still suffering from too many Spads - one Spad is a Spad too many.

"We are investing over �2m in new driver simulators this year.

"These will dramatically improve the quality and efficacy of the driver training process.

"All our new trains are fitted with train protection warning system and we are committed to fitting the system to the remainder of the fleet as soon as possible."

He added: "We need to have a zero tolerance policy on Spads.

"From now on every serious Spad will be reported to our passengers as they happen, together with our efforts and progress to make our network safer."

The driver of the train which passed the signal - the 1544 BST from Faversham to London Victoria - tested negative for drink and drugs but was shaken by the incident and taken off duty.

We take safety very seriously

Charles Horton Connex

Wednesday's incident happened at Bickley junction in Kent. Nearby residents described the near miss as extremely worrying.

The other train involved was a Connex service from London Blackfriars to Sevenoaks in Kent.

Connex said the driver of the Faversham train had realised the signal was red as he passed it and stopped "immediately".

The other driver had been alerted and halted "well clear" of the Faversham train, the company added.

Safety measures

Connex operations director Charles Horton said: "We have already started a full investigation, along with Railtrack, to establish exactly what happened.

Paddington crash happened after Spad incident

"We take safety very seriously and will implement any measures for improvement that the investigation may identify."

The signal involved was tested and put back into use early on Thursday morning with no defect detected.

The Health and Safety Executive has launched an investigation into the incident.

The busy junction is close to several suburban housing estates.

Retired company director John Coates, who lives just a few yards from the junction, said if there had been a crash debris could have been sent flying into nearby homes.

"Trains roar through here every couple of minutes. I shudder to think what would have happened if there had been a collision," he said.

Another resident, whose house is adjacent to the track, said she was working in her garden at the time.

"There is a line of trees which would have given some protection but it is still a very worrying thought."