A Tube train was sent into the path of another train during Wednesday morning's rush hour, it has emerged.

The driver of the Hammersmith and City Line train realised it had been wrongly switched to an eastbound track shortly after leaving Plaistow station.

Transport for London (TfL) said the train was stopped immediately and the nearest eastbound train was held at a red light almost 1km away at West Ham.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has been informed of the incident.

The Office of Rail Regulation has also been notified.

Last month an out-of-control engineering train, without a driver, went through six stops on the Northern Line before coming to a stop.

In the latest incident, a westbound train was turned around in sidings at Plaistow, east London, and incorrectly routed on to the eastbound tracks at 0818 BST.

After picking up three passengers at Plaistow station it was given a green light and pulled away from the platform.

It was only then that the driver realised the mistake. She stopped the train and raised the alarm.

The train was then reversed into the station so the passengers could get off.

Services on the District and the Hammersmith and City lines were partially suspended for about six hours to allow investigations to take place.

Initial investigations are understood to have identified a fault with signalling equipment at Plaistow station.

A TfL statement said: "The driver, following London Underground's stringent safety procedures, stopped the train immediately, and our signalling system prevented any eastbound trains from moving towards the stationary train.

"The nearest eastbound train was stationary at red signals almost a kilometre away at West Ham."

A spokesman for the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said: "Our health and safety representatives are fully involved in the investigation into this incident and we are awaiting the outcome of the investigation process."

Its seems to be likely that FGW may get back some of the class 180's which could  be used on London Worcester/Hereford services.

 I suspect that these will be the few that are on Hire to Northern which are due to be replaced by the class 142's & class 150's which are due to be recieved from FGW & London  Midland from October

In fact i think that the London services should in fact all run through to Swansea instead of terminating at Cardiff  providing a 15 minutely service when combined with the local stopping services between the 2 cities