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The “wrong sort of train” today caused disruption for Southern Rail commuters.

Embarrassed rail chiefs admitted they had to cancel a Clapham to Watford train after it became stranded at Shepherds Bush.

A train equipped only to take power from the third rail had been sent out when it should have had an overhead pantograph arm as well.

When the driver tried to continue the train from Shepherds Bush, where the line switches from third rail to overhead cable, it was realised his train did not have the required roof-mounted pantograph arm to collect current.

Read more Southern rail: Shocked commuters injured as ceiling of rush hour train carriage crashes to floor

The train was stranded for a while, blocking the line and forcing the cancellation of services behind.

Southern admitted the mistake blaming “human error.”

A spokesman said: “We apologise to passengers using the West London Line for the cancellation of the 6.38 am Clapham Junction to Watford Junction service this morning.

“Unfortunately, human error meant that incorrect rolling stock was allocated for the train, meaning it could not progress further than Shepherds Bush.

“We are looking into this to establish how this happened.”