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Trains dump so much human waste that tomatoes are growing in it on the tracks.

A rail worker took the picture of a plant, which has thrived due to human waste being dumped by passing trains.

So much sewage has been flushed on the route between Southend in Essex and London’s Liverpool Street station, that it has acted like fertiliser to the undigested seeds within it.

One of the workers said: “We spotted this at Rochford in Essex. It just shows what a s*** line it is with these tomatoes thriving on fertiliser from the trains.”

Most modern trains are fitted with toilet tanks which are pumped out at depots, but older rolling stock vehicles do not have the same system.

Ministers admit it could take years to eradicate the problem as they as wait for the trains to be taken out of service.

The RMT rail union said it highlighted a serious problem as track workers are exposed to raw sewage from passing trains.

Mick Cash of RMT said: “It shames Britain’s railways that tons of human excrement is dumped on the train tracks.

“Rail staff are often sprayed with this waste. It also shows that the government is prepared to tolerate such Dickensian conditions.”

A spokesperson for the Rail Delivery Group, which represent train operators and Network Rail, said: “The rail industry takes this issue, and feedback from customers and staff very seriously and understands that it can be very unpleasant for track workers.

“Investment in new rolling stock since the mid-1990s means the majority of trains do not have to discharge waste onto tracks, and we continue to find ways to modify older vehicles.

"The minority which do not have toilet tanks fitted will reduce further as new trains are introduced.”

(Image: Collins)

Tips for top tomatoes: From Mirror gardening expert Diarmuid Gavin

I take that train from Southend airport to London and throughout the summer I had no idea that I had been rolling over ripening tomatoes.

Am I surprised? Yes and no. Tomatoes need certain conditions but they do grow easily from seed.

They need heat to germinate and there has been plenty of that outdoors this year.

When seedlings emerge they need good light, so an open railway line is ideal.

Tomato plants are hungry creatures and need feeding and watering regularly. They must have loved all the poo and wee.

Cordon tomatoes need to be trained up a cane or stem while bush tomatoes grow best in containers or hanging baskets.

It’s quirky to see them growing on the tracks but it’s probably best to keep them in the garden.