THERE were 31 instances of trains passing danger signals in May - one fewer than in the same month last year.

Of the May 2004 incidents of signals passed at danger (Spads), 13 were considered serious, the same number as in May last year, said the Health and Safety Executive.

One of the scares was at Newcastle Central Station when an Arriva Trains Northern service over-ran the signal by 44 yards on May 13. It was classed in the least serious category.