A DRUG addict endangered the lives of all the passengers on a York to London express by breaking into its cabs and tampering with the controls, a court heard.

Michael Hendry Coxon, 33, caused mayhem on the East Coast Main Line by forcing the 5.56pm GNER service to stop when it was travelling at 60mph just south of York, said Tom Storey, prosecuting.

Then, when engine staff ran to the rear of the train to investigate, he leapt out of the rear cab, somehow got up to the front, and into the front cab.

Then, he plunged the entire train into darkness by lowering its connection to the overhead electricity lines, sounded its horn and played with the controls continuously while lights flickered on and off in the coaches. He was still in the front cab when British Transport Police arrived.

"God knows what would have happened if he hadn't been arrested," said Judge Jim Spencer QC.

The train was delayed by 90 minutes, a freight service behind had to stop because its line was blocked and the East Coast Main Line suffered disruption that cost the railway industry £39,800, said Mr Storey.

Coxon pleaded guilty to endangering the safety of people on the railway and was jailed for 12 months at York Crown Court, sitting at Leeds.

Mr Storey said Coxon told police he had drunk two litres of vodka and taken methadone that day.

When the 4.55pm London service from Newcastle stopped at York between 5.53pm and 5.56pm, on November 15, station staff managed to stop a man getting into the rear cab.

He ran off towards the short stay car park. But as the train pulled out, other staff saw Coxon in the rear cab with both arms raised.

A mile-and-a-half south of York, the driver in the front cab felt the train start to slow and the brake lights go on. He immediately stopped the train and phoned York signal control.

A maintenance supervisor alerted the engine driver and guard to the intruder in the rear cab and they ran to investigate. But as they checked the rear cab, the train's horn sounded. Coxon was in the front cab.

For Coxon, Glen Parsons said no one had been injured and there had been no physical damage. The train's emergency generator had immediately restored power after its link to the overhead lines was broken.

Coxon, of Rockingham Road, Redhouse, Sunderland, had a long-standing drink and drugs problem. He could not remember how he had got to York or what he had done.

GNER spokesman John Gelson said: "Passenger security and safety is of the utmost importance to us, and a full review was carried out as a matter of course when this incident came to light.

"At no stage were the passengers on board the train in any danger, as full safety procedures quickly dealt with the situation and led to the individual being apprehended."

He said train cabs were usually locked, but did not wish to comment on what had happened on this occasion.

Inspector Tracy Metcalf, of the British Transport Police, said: "We are pleased that the judge has seen how serious this potentially could have been and has treated the matter seriously. This will hopefully give a warning to people that messing around with trains is not like messing with a train set at home."

Fran Critchley, deputy secretary of the North Eastern branch of the Rail Passengers Council, said: "We are sure that GNER was doing its best to ensure the safety of its passengers at all times."

A spokesman for transport union RMT said: "It is very important that no one is seen to get away with endangering people's lives in this way."

Updated: 10:05 Saturday, January 29, 2005