Fifteen people were injured when a suburban train coming from Mumbai struck an empty rake, which was leaving for a car shed around midnight at the railway station in Thane.

"At 2353 hours, a Pitwala-bound local train from Mumbai struck another empty train, which had terminated in Thane and was leaving for the Kalwa car shed," a railway police official told PTI.

"Prima facie, it seems to be the fault of the motorman who was coming from behind as he had jumped a red signal before hitting the train. We will conduct a thorough inquiry into the same and take necessary action," General Manager of Central Railway R S Virdi told PTI at the spot.

The injured passengers were admitted to the Civil Hospital in Thane, railway police said, adding that five were discharged after being administered first aid. They said the injuries were not due to the impact but because of the commuters jumping from the moving train in panic.