17 April 2012 Last updated at 11:54 ET

Southeastern faces court after train overshot station

The train left Charing Cross and was travelling via the London Bridge line to Hastings

A rail company is to be prosecuted after a passenger train allegedly overshot a station in East Sussex by almost two-and-a-half miles.

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) said it had launched a criminal prosecution against Southeastern.

The firm faces charges under health and safety law.

The London to Hastings train is alleged to have travelled through Stonegate station at 50mph on 8 November 2010 and failed to stop.

No-one was hurt and there was no damage.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said it failed to stop as there was "almost certainly" no sand in the sandhoppers which help the train brake.

The first hearing has been scheduled for 24 May at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court in Kent