£1m blaze on train started by students

Two students have been convicted of setting fire to a moving train, causing nearly £1 million of damage.

The male defendants, both 18, torched cushions and newspapers on seats in the last carriage of a late-night service from Charing Cross to Hayes, Middlesex in August last year.

The seats were set ablaze as the train pulled into West Wickham station, Croydon Crown Court heard.

The blaze caused £860,000 of damage - the most Southeastern Trains has ever had to pay for.

The teenagers, both of West Wickham, had denied arson charges but both were found guilty of arson with intent to endanger life after a two-week trial which ended yesterday.

British Transport Police Detective Constable Malcolm McCulloch, who led the investigation, said: "It was extremely lucky that no one else was in the carriage at the time and thankfully no one was injured.

"Given the voltage that is involved in running trains, combined with a fire, it was a very dangerous and reckless act. Without doubt lives were placed at risk.

"Investigations revealed that newspapers had been placed on top of the last row of seats in the train, lit and then seat cushions placed on top of the fire.

"I think it was a prank that went wrong though they denied that throughout."

The pair were arrested in November last year after Joseph Eales saw his picture on posters and gave himself up.

It was the first time either of them have been in trouble with the police.

Sarah Boundy, head of customer services at Southeastern, said: "Acts of vandalism like this have a massive effect on us. It's not just the damaged train that £1m blaze on train started by students needs to come out of service but there's one less train so fewer carriages which means overcrowding and cancelled services.

"It has a far greaterreaching effect and it is a busy line."

The duo will be sentenced at Croydon Crown Court next month.