 The Holborn rail crash occurred on the Central line at Holborn on 9 July 1980 , at about 13 : 28 and involved two 1962 stock trains . The 13 : 17 train from Liverpool Street to White City , standing at the westbound platform , was run into by the 12 : 49 Hainault to Ealing Broadway train . The rear train was slowing after its brakes had been applied by the emergency train stop system because it had passed two signals at danger , but it failed to stop in time to avoid collision . The driver of the rear train and 20 passengers were injured . An inquiry concluded that the accident was caused by the driver failing to control his train . Disruption of services occurred until the following morning . 
