A Muslim train driver who went through two red lights before he crashed had gone without food or drink for almost a day because of Ramadan, rail accident experts claim.

The driver, who worked for Great Western, failed to stop and went through a double red light at London's Paddington Station in June.

He had not eaten anything for 15 hours before he made an emergency stop but his actions couldn't prevent the train from leaving the tracks.

The train then hit a gantry and brought down power lines at 6.12pm - more than five hours after he started his shift at 1.07pm.

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The Great Western Train derailed after the driver went through a double red light near Paddington station

The driver of the train (pictured) had not eaten anything for 15 hours before he made an emergency stop

The train hit a gantry and brought down power lines at 6.12pm - more than five hours after he started his shift at 1.07pm

Luckily there were no passengers on board during the derailment and the accident led to three days of disruption - causing misery for commuters.

The driver, who has not been named, had his last meal at 2.30am, reports The Sun.

The Rail Accident Investigation Board have been looking into the incident and were unable to conclude fasting was a factor in the crash.

The train took out overhead powerlines approaching the station delaying some 10,000 commuters

Luckily there were no passengers on board during the derailment and the accident led to three days of disruption - causing misery for commuters.

But investigators highlighted their studies suggested that not eating can result in 'sleepiness and a reduction in concentration'.

They added that this can 'result in safety concerns, especially when conducting safety critical jobs'.

Great Western added that its drivers were regularly briefed and monitored for competence.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and the month in which the Quran was revealed.

Thousands of passengers faced long delays after the train derailed on its approach to Paddington

Passenger services out of Paddington were suspended yesterday afternoon after the incident

Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and Muslims fast during the daylight hours from dawn to sunset.

At the time, a spokesman for Network Rail, said: ' An empty train travelled past a red signal outside Paddington station which activated an automatic derailment.'

'Overhead line equipment was damaged and trains are able to access only three of the six lines serving the station.'