![[ image: width=150]](/olmedia/60000/images/_60460_pete.jpg)
![image: [ One passenger died and 70 were injured in the crash ]](/olmedia/60000/images/_60460_wreck.jpg)
Peter Afford was driving the train from London Euston to Milton Keynes when it hit an empty passenger train travelling in the opposite direction at Watford Junction in August 1996, killing one passenger and injuring more than 70 others.
Mr Afford, 56, of Bushey, Hertfordshire, has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter.
Brian Escott-Cox QC, prosecuting at Luton Crown Court, said Mr Afford disregarded yellow signals and advanced warning system lights and buzzers in his cab telling him to slow down in preparation for a red signal to stop.
"Had Mr Afford obeyed those signals, you and I would not be here today," Mr Escott-Cox told the jury.
"If Mr Afford had been obeying the yellow signal he could have pulled up in comfort but he was actually accelerating."
Mr Escott-Cox said that Mr Afford had just started his shift and was driving his first train of the day, which left at about 5pm, on a line that he knew well.
He said the driver was accelerating through a yellow light and although he reacted quickly and braked when he saw the red signal, Mr Escott-Cox said: "The die was already cast.
"He was going too fast. Putting his brakes on was too late."
The trial continues.
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