Anjanette Rossi, 38, and Louella Main, nine, were among seven people killed in the crash on a level-crossing near Ufton Nervet, Berkshire, in 2004.

David Main told the jury inquest in Slough how the pair had been shopping and missed their first train home.

He was waiting at Newbury station but could not get hold of them by phone.

The inquest began on Monday morning after a delay of nearly three years while Mr Main, of Speen, Berkshire, successfully fought for legal aid.

Train driver Stanley Martin, 54, of Torquay in Devon, and five passengers died when the high-speed London Paddington to Plymouth train hit motorist Brian Drysdale's car on the level-crossing at 100mph.

All eight carriages derailed in the crash on 6 November 2004.

"I knew something was wrong and I tried to ring Anjanette but she didn't answer" - David Main

Mr Main told the inquest he had dropped Ms Rossi and his daughter at Newbury station on the day of the crash so they could spend the day shopping in Reading.

He said: "When Anjanette phoned and said she had missed the train, I said 'I will come and pick you up' and she said 'No, we enjoy the train - we will have a coffee'."

He told the inquest he then waited with his son to collect them at Newbury station.

He said he saw a train coming the other way, which people were getting off, and it was announced there had been an incident.

"Then I knew something was wrong and I tried to ring Anjanette but she didn't answer. Then I knew something was seriously wrong."

Close to tears

The inquest heard how he called a friend to pick his son up and he went straight to the police station.

Close to tears, he said: "I said I knew there had been a train crash and I knew Anjanette was on it."

The five passengers who died were: Mr Main's partner Anjanette Rossi, 38, of Speen, Berkshire, and daughter Louella Main, nine; Charlie Matthews, 72, of Warminster, Wiltshire; Barry Strevens, 55, of Wells, Somerset; and Emily Webster, 14.

Mr Drysdale, who was 48 and from Reading, also died.

The inquest continues.

See also:

Rail victim 'enjoyed' crash video

BBC News: 10 October 2007,

The inquest heard Brian Drysdale had no 'natural disease or illness'

A man who was killed when a high-speed train hit his car in 2004 "enjoyed" watching a video of a 2001 rail disaster, a jury inquest has heard.

The Selby rail video told the story of how a Land Rover rolled onto the tracks derailing a high speed train.

A workmate told the inquest at Slough that Bryan Drysdale, 48, talked about the programme two weeks before he died.

Mr Drysdale and six others were killed in the train crash at a level crossing near Ufton Nervet in Berkshire.

He made reference to watching that documentary. He said he had really enjoyed it
Sean Paterson

"In hindsight about two weeks before there was a documentary on the TV about the guy who fell asleep in the Land Rover and rolled down the bank," said Sean Paterson who worked with Mr Drysdale.

"He made reference to watching that documentary. He said he had really enjoyed it."

Mr Paterson also said that Mr Drysdale had complained that his manager Laurent Beaunier "picked on him".

The inquest heard that Mr Drysdale filed a complaint with Thames Valley Police four days before the train crash, claiming that Mr Beaunier had been around his house "making threats towards him".

But Mr Beaunier told the court this came as a shock to him because he did not know where Mr Drysdale lived.

"He didn't give me any signs he was troubled by me," he said.

Toxicology tests

The inquest was also told that Mr Drysdale was a heavy drinker who took cannabis and ecstasy.

However toxicology tests found no presence of drink or drugs in his body.

Forensic pathologist Dr Nathaniel Carey told the inquest jury that Mr Drysdale died from multiple injuries sustained when the high-speed First Great Western London Paddington to Plymouth service collided with his Mazda car.

He said there was no natural disease or illness present that could have contributed.

The inquest continues.