FARNHAM rail commuters have been shocked to discover how close they came to being involved in a major disaster, after learning they had been on a runaway train that went through two red lights. The 05.44 Alton to Waterloo service on Friday, November 25, reportedly skidded at 85 mph on a slippery track for three-quarters of a mile between Esher and Surbiton, stopping just 300 yards from the rear of another train. Passengers on the packed train obviously knew something was amiss, as they were told to disembark from the train at Surbiton and await another service. But bizarrely it wasn't until a week later, when the story made national headlines last Friday, that they realised the peril they had been in. It has been announced that an inquiry had been launched, which will probe possible rail contamination or mechanical failure. Driver error has been ruled out following analysis of the train's black box and in fact the driver was praised for managing to stop the train. So, too, was a signalman at Wimbledon, who was able to ensure the signal ahead of the leading train was changed to green, enabling it to pull away and averting catastrophe. Rushmoor councillor Mike Roberts, who was travelling on the out-of-control train with hundreds of other commuters, told The Herald: "The good news is that there wasn't an accident; the bad news is that there was a near miss. "We were aware that there was something not quite right, particularly when the driver asked the guard to contact him, which is a euphanism for 'Houston, we have a problem'. "But most of the commuters on the train were not aware of how potentially serious it was. We were simply told that we may have been aware of some slipping for the previous few minutes, then we were kicked off at Surbiton." At the time Mr Roberts put the incident down to the usual trials facing the habitual commuter. Indeed at the end of the day, he faced a three-and-a-half hour journey home because of signal failure at Fleet, and a suicide on the line at Surbiton. So to read about the seriousness of the incident a week later was a real shock. "It's the usual thing, you get the inquiry and it all comes out," said Mr Roberts. "For the commuters, this is a matter of concern. For instance, were the right and proper procedures on that occasion complied with by all parties and are there any other issues with regard to the new rolling stock - are the trains too light?" A Network Rail spokesman said: "We can confirm that at around 0630 in the morning of Friday, November 25, the 0544 Alton to Waterloo service was involved in a 'signal passed at danger' (SPAD) incident near Esher station. No-one was hurt or injured. "The train driver and signaller are to be commended for their actions and no other trains were involved. "The incident is now subject to a full and thorough investigation by Network Rail and South West Trains to understand what happened." Aslef, the train drivers' union, has stepped up calls for cab-to-cab communication systems between drivers following the near miss.