A passenger bashed by a Connex train driver had taunted the driver and assaulted him before the driver struck back, accordinig to a rail source who saw complete CCTV footage of the event.

The source, who today gained access to the footage, said it showed the passenger approach the train driver and say something to him, prompting the driver to get out of his cabin. and

The passenger then appears to either headbutt the driver or spit in his face - the footage is not clear enough to show exactly what happened.

The driver then flings the passenger to the ground and the CCTV footage finishes with images that appeared online today, of the Connex driver repeatedly punching the passenger.

The train operator would not comment on the incident this afternoon, other than to say that both passenger and driver appeared to have cases to answer.