Larry Harrison, 52, from Greenford in Middlesex, was the driver of the high-speed 10.32 express train from Swansea to London which crashed into an empty freight train on 19 September, 1997.

As well as the seven who died, 147 people were injured and needed hospital treatment after the crash.

Committing Mr Harrison, magistrates at Ealing in west London extended his unconditional bail until 15 January 1999, when he will appear at the Old Bailey for a plea and directions hearing.

No application for legal aid was made, and reporting restrictions were not lifted.

New charge

It has also emerged that Mr Harrison faces a new charge in connection with the accident.

The Health and Safety Executive said it had charged the train driver with breaching section seven of the 1974 Health and Safety at Work Act.

The charge alleges that he failed to discharge his duty to take reasonable care of the health and safety of railway passengers, an HSE spokesman said.

The Great Western Train Company is due in the same court on the same day to face seven charges of corporate manslaughter. It also faces one charge of breaching section three of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

The Health and Safety Executive allegation against Mr Harrison, and the charges against Great Western are both scheduled for hearings at Ealing magistrates court on 12 January.