Firms warned

Thames Trains Great Western Anglia Arriva Trains Merseyside Cardiff Railway Great Eastern GNER Wales & West ScotRail Connex South Central

The operators have been told by the Railway Inspectorate they face enforcement action, and potential prosecutions, if safety records are not improved.

The inspectorate, part of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), has also written to all Britain's train companies about their "unacceptable" approach to dealing with signals particularly prone to Spad incidents.

The moves come despite last year's Ladbroke Grove train crash, which killed 31 people and involved a signal passed at danger, and last week's highly critical Cullen Report into the tragedy.

Worsening records

Eight of the companies received letters because their 2000-01 Spads record was worse than the previous 12 months.

Two others - ScotRail and Connex South Central - were warned because their record had only improved slightly.

All the companies have been given until 13 July to explain how they plan to improve.

Spads in May

56 in total 22 rated serious compared to 18 a year ago 4 led to derailment 3 led to track damage 29 at location with Spad history 8 overran signal by over 200 yards

The HSE said that there were 56 instances of trains passing signals at danger in May 2001 - 21 more than in May 2000 and seven more than the average figure for this month over the last six years.

Although overall the figures have dropped over the past year, this is the first time that a monthly average over the last six years has been exceeded since June 1999.

Transport minister John Spellar said: "Naturally I am concerned at these latest figures.

"The problem is not new and the industry's response to the problem has been far too patchy.

John Spellar: 'Working practices must improve'

"The industry must get a firm grip on the problem and deal with it."

And he said Wednesday's near-miss, when two Connex South Eastern trains came within a coach-length of a head-on crash, "only serves to underline the vital importance of tackling this immediately".

Connex South Eastern has announced plans for a "zero tolerance" policy on Spads as a result of the incident.

Action ordered

The HSE letter sent out to the companies refers to action ordered in September 1999 to improve the 22 signals most passed at danger.

They included signal 109, passed at danger in the Ladbroke Grove rail crash.

The companies were given until March 2001 to complete the improvements.

In the HSE's letter the companies are warned that: