Hundreds of passengers trapped on delayed train escape onto tracks and WALK to the nearest station

Rail chiefs have condemned up to 200 students who were forced to abandon an overcrowded train stuck between stations and WALKED down the track.

The two-carriage service was crammed with people heading to a music festival and already running late when it was halted because of more passengers ahead.

But after stopping for 25 minutes the fed-up students revolted and decided to get off.

Attempts to smash the windows failed so the frustrated passengers pulled the emergency cord to open the doors before spilling out onto the tracks.

Police were alerted and dozens scrambled up grass banks to get away. One panicked woman collapsed by the trackside.

The train, which was standing between Clifton Down and Redland stations in Bristol, eventually moved on but was virtually empty.

Student Poppy Maltby, also 21, added: “A few people had panic attacks and had to be carried off.

“It was awful, everyone was forcing the doors open and running down the tracks back to Clifton Down.”

India McGrath, 21, a third year student, said: “I went into the bathroom as it was so hot and sweaty in the carriage. There were over 200 people in two carriages. It was horrible.”

The incident happened after between 150 and 200 students piled onto the train at Clifton Down station around 2.50pm on Saturday afternoon.

They were heading to the one-day music festival Tokyo World in Eastville Park, Bristol, and passengers said it took around 15 minutes to get everyone on board.

But just moments into the 12-minute journey the train stopped because of overcrowding ahead at the next station at Redland.

Network Rail announced they would not be making the scheduled stop because the station was too busy.

Students started to chant “let us off, let us off” and one jumped into the overhead luggage storage shelf to avoid the crush.

One third-year computer science student told student newspaper the Epigram: “No one knew what was going on.

“The driver made an announcement over the tannoy but no one could really hear it.”

The emergency alarm was pulled and students leaped a metre from the train onto the tracks.

British Transport Police were called to help escort passengers away.

Julian Burnell from Network Rail said: “This is a very rare and very serious incident.

“In the seven years I have worked at Network Rail, this is the first time I have heard of such an incident taking place.”

The company said the “uncontrolled evacuation” had the potential to cause fatal accidents.

Mr Burnell added: “It is extremely dangerous, even on a quiet railway like this one.

“Thankfully it is not an electric line, the outcome could have been very different.”

Great Western Railway said they were investigating and added: “Railway lines are designed for trains, not people and are inherently dangerous places.

“The actions of this group of passengers, whatever their reasons, endangered not only themselves, but also their fellow passengers.”

British Transport Police said: “We are treating this as a trespass incident – one which caused numerous delays to services in the area and could have put lives in danger – and inquiries are currently underway to identify those involved.”