THE number of trains passing through red lights in the South, has shot up, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Figures obtained by the Echo show the number of incidents in the region has risen by almost a fifth in the past year.

In 1997-98 there were 123 such incidents compared with 145 in 1998-99, an increase of 18 per cent.

The shock figures from the Health and Safety Executive were disclosed to the Daily Echo three months before they are normally publicly available.

The incidents - called Signals passed at Danger (Spads) -- happen regularly in the southern zone of Railtrack which stretches from Kent to Dorset.

Nationally the number of Spads increased from 593 in 1997-98 to 643 in 1998-99, an increase of eight per cent.

In February the Daily Echo revealed how a Southampton-bound train went through a red light near Winchester. The driver was disciplined and returned to work.

Thousands of passengers in Hampshire on a daily basis use trains to and from Waterloo.

This month the government announced it will spend £150 million on a train protection and warning system which will automatically stop trains if they pass a danger signal.

But Alan Shotter, vice-chairman of the southern Rail Users' Consultative Committee, said: "Spads shouldn't happen. One Spad is one too many. A 20 per cent increase is bad news.

"However, the new train protection system should end the problem.''

An unspecified number occurred on South West Trains' services through Hampshire.

A spokeswoman said: "There are a number of reasons Spads occur and each is investigated and lessons learnt.''

She denied the problem was worsening. "There is no clear pattern emerging. It is important to remember there are more drivers driving more trains.

"We share the concerns and are working to reduce them. Our drivers go through extensive training and are not in service unless they are competent."

Railtrack - in charge of Britain's rail infra-structure, including lights, track and bridges - blamed the increase on the rising number of trains using the lines in the area.

A spokesman said: "We do take the number of Spads seriously and we are working to see how we can reduce them. But the long-term trend, back to the early 90s, is for a decreas-ing number of incidents and we want to see that continue."

The news comes as rail watchdogs report that more than one in ten South West Trains arrived late. The Central Rail Users' Consultative Committees said the figures were alarming. SWT said many of the late arrivals were caused by circumstances beyond their control.

From April 1998 to March 1999 the monthly figure of Spads (with the previous year's in brackets): April, 13 (8); May, 6 (9); June, 6 (6); July, 9 (11); August, 11 (5); September, 15 (7); October, 23 (10); November, 23 (27); December, 7 (9); January 1999, 14 (12); February, 8 (11); March 10 (8), total 145 (123).

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