Sliding doors on a rush-hour commuter train were opened on a viaduct 30 feet above Chelmsford last Friday evening.

The driver stopped the busy train four coaches short of Chelmsford station because he momentarily forgot that it was 12 coaches long.

David Bigg, head of Mid-Essex, Witham and Braintree Rail Users Association described the incident as a frightening addition to the catalogue of recent rail mayhem.

What happened next was a farce which resulted in the train being pulled from the run, he said.

Rail company Great Eastern said: "The driver realised instantly that he had made a mistake. He made an announcement and shut the doors, making ready to pull forward.

"People preparing to step on to the platform thought the train was pulling away and someone pulled the communication cord, which meant that platform staff had to open the doors by pushing the buttons on the outside of the train.

"The result of this was that the driver-operated door relay mechanism no longer operated and we had to take the train out of service at Hatfield Peverel. The remaining passengers had to take a later train."

No one was hurt in the incident.

Mr Bigg added: "I have every sympathy for the driver. Drivers are under stress and strain at the moment and, although it is hell being a passenger during the current crisis timetable, I would not swap with a driver for anything.

"I hope Great Eastern will be as aware of driver difficulties as they say they are of passenger concerns."

Severe restrictions will make life slow on the Chelmsford to London line before and after Christmas. A Sunday service will operate on just two tracks in the Brentwood area on December 23, with all trains terminating for buses either side of Ilford on Christmas Eve. Services are shut down for Christmas and there will be difficulties around Ilford on December 27, 28 and 29.

Rail drama: The viaduct outside Chelmsford station where a train's doors were opened.

By Peter Baker

Reporter's e-mail: peter.baker@essex-chronicle.co.uk

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.