Signalling equipment was to blame for the Watford rail crash two years ago, according to an official report.

It is calling for the installation of Automatic Train Protection, a system designed to prevent trains going through red signals, which was shelved on the grounds of cost.

Health and Safety Executive Vic Coleman: 'The driver failed to react properly' (0'18")

One person was killed and 69 people were injured when a train collided with a stationary passenger train at Watford South Junction in Hertfordshire on August 8, 1996.

Driver Peter Afford: cleared of manslaughter

The Health and Safety Executive report said the driver of the London Euston to Milton Keynes train "did not react correctly to two signals set at caution".

When he saw the next signal - which was red - he was travelling at nearly 68mph (110kph). By the time he did slow down and stop it was too late.

His train overran the signal, crossed the junction with another line and blocked a set of points. An empty train, travelling at 50mph (80kph), could not avoid a collision.

Publication of the report was delayed because the driver of the passenger train, Peter Afford, was being tried for manslaughter. He was found not guilty at Luton Crown Court on March 11.

ASLEF Train Drivers Union representative Lew Adams: 'The infrastructure failed' (0'15")

Mr Afford's lawyers told the court he had not seen two early warning signs. They also said he would have seen the red light earlier had it not been obscured by bushes.

Lawyers representing the victims of the crash and their families welcomed the verdict and blamed Railtrack for the crash.

Safety advice

The HSE is not recommending any legal action against other parties involved because no health and safety laws were broken.

It is, however, making 21 safety recommendations to Railtrack, which operates Britain's railway lines. It says the company must:

• Evaluate the full cost of the accident - which could amount to millions of pounds - and weigh that up against the cost of Automatic Train Protection. ATP had been recommended after the Clapham rail disaster 10 years ago but was later rejected as too costly

• Ensure drivers have plenty of warning - or "overlap" - of red signals so they have enough time to brake. The HSE report pointed out that a speed restriction sign "placed in an inappropriate position" had confused the passenger train driver

• Identify any junctions that may need a redesign or extra safety measures

• Upgrade the braking system on Class 321 passenger trains, such as the one involved in the accident, as soon as possible

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