COMMUTERS were stuck in a tunnel in Sydenham Hill for more than one hour when a train carrying 500 passengers broke in two.

The London Victoria to Rochester train was leaving Sydenham Hill station at 6.20pm yesterday (October 15) when the four front carriages became uncoupled from the rear half of the train.

A safety mechanism automatically activated the brakes and sounded an alarm in the driver’s cab but not before the front half of the train had travelled ten feet from the platform and into Penge Tunnel.

Passengers were stranded inside the tunnel for an hour and a half while engineers checked the carriages and moved them back into the station.

The carriages involved in the incident were taken out of service and transferred to the Southeastern depot at Slade Green, where a an investigation into why the train broke in two is being carried out.

Nobody was injured in the incident and passengers in the rear four carriages were able to get off the train immediately and to continue their journey on alternative trains and buses.

A Southeastern spokesperson said: “While no one was in immediate danger we appreciate this would have been concerning for passengers onboard.

“And it would have been frustrating for many as it meant their journeys home were delayed.

He added: “An investigation was launched immediately and the trains taken to the depot for inspection.

“Early indications suggest that the fault lies with one of the train’s coupling units.

“Further tests are now being carried out. All our trains are regularly checked before entering passenger service to ensure they are in working order.”