Baby born on packed commuter train, passengers burst into applause

A routine evening commute from London to Kent, England, took a turn for the eventful yesterday when a passenger went into labour.

The train was delayed as good Samaritans, an off-duty midwife, nurse and police officer, came to the woman's aid.

Train conductor Colin Brooker told the Telegraph, "We had everyone we needed right there on the train. We were only missing a vicar to baptise the baby."

After a labour that lasted just 15 minutes, Sonia Banks, 22, gave birth on the train one week early to a "perfectly healthy" 6-pound, 13-ounce baby girl. Her boyfriend, Allan Stanley, and his mother, Mari-anne Stanley, were traveling with her and witnessed the birth.

Passengers erupted into cheers and applause at the news of the safe delivery. Some even tweeted their congratulations.

"The baby is doing OK and has been named Phoebe," a spokesman for Southeastern, the rail company, said, adding that the transportation firm would be sending the new mom flowers.

"The normal protocol for a medical emergency is for the conductor to administer first aid but it is likely he would have had to put a message out to ask for help."

Mari-anne Stanley told the Independent that both mother and child are doing very well.

"They are expected to be released from hospital today. We would like to thank everybody involved yesterday," she said.

Baby Phoebe is Banks' second child.

Mari-anne Stanley recalled the positive response to what could have been a traumatizing experience:

"It was the lovely midwife who actually delivered the baby, she was so nice and calm. It must have been a big shock for her," she told the Daily Mail.

"I want to say a really big thank you to all the passengers who were so patient. I apologise to them too if we delayed them. None of the passengers in our carriage complained when they were asked to move to another carriage or get off the train. They were all so nice and concerned. I think they just wanted to make sure there was a happy outcome."

She added, "When the driver announced the baby had been born everyone was clapping and cheering, it was so lovely. I had tears in my eyes."

The baby's overwhelmed father spoke to the Standard:

"It feels like I’m on cloud nine. It’s mad. I was present at the birth and witnessed everything. Everything’s fine and hopefully mother and baby will be released later," Allan Stanley said.