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An invesigation was under way today after video footage showed the doors of a new Crossrail train opening directly onto the tracks in a “very worrying” safety breach.

Transport for London confirmed an urgent probe had been launched into the error on a train which will serve the new Elizabeth Line.

Footage posted online shows a door opening on the wrong side of a carriage onto rail tracks rather than the platform, with passengers unable to exit or board the train.

Johnny Beverton, 31, who filmed the video, said passengers were left “staring in disbelief” after the incident at Stratford station on Friday evening.

He said: “We did a double take in a moment of confusion when we saw the green light on the other side of the train.

“No one was near the door, so we walked over and pressed the bottom and it opened.

“I wouldn’t have opened it if there was anyone in harm’s way but I just wanted to see if it would actually open.”

He added: “It felt like five minutes before the [correct] doors opened up... everyone was just staring in disbelief.

“It took another seven or eight minutes for them to say the train was out of service.”

The new Elizabeth line trains have a capacity of 1,500 people each and are already operating between Liverpool Street and Shenfield.

The safety breach is the latest embarrassment to hit the 73-mile rail scheme, after costs soared from £2.8 billion to £17.6 billion and its opening was delayed by at least a year.

Mr Beverton, who works in marketing, added: “All I could think was imagine if that had happened at 6pm on a Monday, and if someone had pressed it, someone would definitely have fallen onto the tracks.”

Transport expert Christian Wolmar added: “I thought there were safety procedures that prevented this. This sounds like a very worrying incident.

“I’m sure that [they] should investigate and assess whether the fault was with the driver or with something to do with the train.

“It is a very unusual incident and a potentially dangerous one.”

A TfL spokesman apologised for “any distress” to customers, adding: “Safety is our number one priority and we are urgently investigating this incident with the train operator MTR Crossrail.”