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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Rail crash report blames checks | Rail crash report blames checks |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Track maintenance failures contributed to a train crash in Cumbria which left one person dead and dozens injured, a report has concluded. | Track maintenance failures contributed to a train crash in Cumbria which left one person dead and dozens injured, a report has concluded. |
| Margaret Masson, 84, of Glasgow, died and 82 people were hurt when a Virgin West Coast Pendolino train derailed at 95mph near Grayrigg in February 2007. | Margaret Masson, 84, of Glasgow, died and 82 people were hurt when a Virgin West Coast Pendolino train derailed at 95mph near Grayrigg in February 2007. |
| A Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) report published on Thursday made 29 safety recommendations. | A Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) report published on Thursday made 29 safety recommendations. |
| Three men were arrested after the crash. Two have since been cleared. | Three men were arrested after the crash. Two have since been cleared. |
| The 255-page report said rail infrastructure company Network Rail (NR) incorrectly set up points that failed and were the ultimate cause of the derailment. | |
| The tragedy at Grayrigg was caused by the failure of our infrastructure, something we were devastated to discover. Network Rail chief executive Iain Coucher | The tragedy at Grayrigg was caused by the failure of our infrastructure, something we were devastated to discover. Network Rail chief executive Iain Coucher |
| NR had an "incomplete understanding" of the design, maintenance and inspection of the stretcher bars used in the points, the RAIB said. | NR had an "incomplete understanding" of the design, maintenance and inspection of the stretcher bars used in the points, the RAIB said. |
| The organisation also failed to carry out a planned track inspection of the points five days before the fatal crash. | The organisation also failed to carry out a planned track inspection of the points five days before the fatal crash. |
| The RAIB said that the immediate cause of the derailment was the deterioration of the points at Lambrigg through a combination of failures of the points' three stretcher bars, the lock stretcher bar, and their fastening. | The RAIB said that the immediate cause of the derailment was the deterioration of the points at Lambrigg through a combination of failures of the points' three stretcher bars, the lock stretcher bar, and their fastening. |
| How points work | How points work |
| The report said that in the 35 years since the design of points used at Lambrigg was introduced there had been no previous catastrophic accident associated with the type of stretcher bars used in the design. | The report said that in the 35 years since the design of points used at Lambrigg was introduced there had been no previous catastrophic accident associated with the type of stretcher bars used in the design. |
| Network Rail chief executive Iain Coucher said: "The tragedy at Grayrigg was caused by the failure of our infrastructure, something we were devastated to discover. | Network Rail chief executive Iain Coucher said: "The tragedy at Grayrigg was caused by the failure of our infrastructure, something we were devastated to discover. |
| "We immediately accepted responsibility for the accident and once again apologise today to Mrs Masson's family and all those affected. | "We immediately accepted responsibility for the accident and once again apologise today to Mrs Masson's family and all those affected. |
| One woman died and dozens were injured in the crash | One woman died and dozens were injured in the crash |
| "Following a comprehensive and detailed industry investigation we made immediate changes to our maintenance regime. | "Following a comprehensive and detailed industry investigation we made immediate changes to our maintenance regime. |
| "Travel by rail is the safest form of travel and despite Grayrigg, the railways are safer than ever before. It is important that the rail industry seeks ways to make it safer still and this report should help that process." | "Travel by rail is the safest form of travel and despite Grayrigg, the railways are safer than ever before. It is important that the rail industry seeks ways to make it safer still and this report should help that process." |
| Twenty-one of 29 RAIB safety recommendations are directed at Network Rail and include measures to tackle staff fatigue. | Twenty-one of 29 RAIB safety recommendations are directed at Network Rail and include measures to tackle staff fatigue. |
| The RAIB said a report into the 2002 Potters Bar crash identified a need for NR to better understand the different designs of points used on the rail network. | The RAIB said a report into the 2002 Potters Bar crash identified a need for NR to better understand the different designs of points used on the rail network. |
| The report said: "NR had accepted the value of such an approach but did not consider its application to existing points with non-adjustable stretcher bars to be a priority." | The report said: "NR had accepted the value of such an approach but did not consider its application to existing points with non-adjustable stretcher bars to be a priority." |
| The report said Virgin's Pendolino train "performed" better than had been seen with earlier designs of trains in previous accidents. | The report said Virgin's Pendolino train "performed" better than had been seen with earlier designs of trains in previous accidents. |
| 'Systematic failings' | 'Systematic failings' |
| However, it went on to say safety could be improved by better designed seat mountings and overhead lighting panels. | However, it went on to say safety could be improved by better designed seat mountings and overhead lighting panels. |
| Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon welcomed the report and said a decision on an inquest into the Potters Bar tragedy would be taken in the New Year. | Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon welcomed the report and said a decision on an inquest into the Potters Bar tragedy would be taken in the New Year. |
| The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union renewed its call for a joint public inquiry into the Grayrigg and Potters Bar derailments. | The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union renewed its call for a joint public inquiry into the Grayrigg and Potters Bar derailments. |
| RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "It is now abundantly clear that systematic management failings, lack of resources and the fragmented contract culture still prevalent on the railway all played their part in the complex of causes of the Grayrigg derailment. | RMT general secretary Bob Crow said: "It is now abundantly clear that systematic management failings, lack of resources and the fragmented contract culture still prevalent on the railway all played their part in the complex of causes of the Grayrigg derailment. |
| "For NR to attempt, as it did, to point the finger of blame at individuals it managed so poorly was outrageous, and for police to keep two of our members under suspicion of manslaughter for nearly a year without a shred of evidence demands an apology." | "For NR to attempt, as it did, to point the finger of blame at individuals it managed so poorly was outrageous, and for police to keep two of our members under suspicion of manslaughter for nearly a year without a shred of evidence demands an apology." |
| Back to story | Back to story |