This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6392197.stm
The article has changed 25 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Crash inquiry to focus on points | Crash inquiry to focus on points |
(30 minutes later) | |
The inquiry into the Cumbria rail crash in which one person died will focus on a set of points, police have said. | The inquiry into the Cumbria rail crash in which one person died will focus on a set of points, police have said. |
Chief Superintendent Martyn Ripley of British Transport Police said the points could prove "significant". | Chief Superintendent Martyn Ripley of British Transport Police said the points could prove "significant". |
An eighty-year-old woman was killed and five other people were seriously hurt when the train derailed. | |
Several carriages were left on their sides after the Virgin London to Glasgow service crashed at Grayrigg, near Kendal, at about 95mph. | Several carriages were left on their sides after the Virgin London to Glasgow service crashed at Grayrigg, near Kendal, at about 95mph. |
Police said 22 people went to hospital after the accident at 2015 GMT on Friday, while dozens more were "walking wounded". | Police said 22 people went to hospital after the accident at 2015 GMT on Friday, while dozens more were "walking wounded". |
The driver of the train was among those seriously injured. | |
It suddenly appeared to hit something and then lurched very, very badly from side to side in a very dramatic way Caroline Thomson, passenger | |
When the train derailed, a number of carriages slipped down the embankment. One of them came to rest in the air at a sharp angle, while the engine doubled back on the train. | |
Chief Supt Ripley said he was amazed there had not been more fatalities among the 100 passengers on board. "It is little short of a miracle," he said. | Chief Supt Ripley said he was amazed there had not been more fatalities among the 100 passengers on board. "It is little short of a miracle," he said. |
He said his officers were working throughout the train with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch and Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate. | He said his officers were working throughout the train with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch and Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate. |
"Our inquiries have led us to believe that a set of points could be significant in this inquiry, although there is a lot more work to do and we are waiting for further expert opinion," he said. | "Our inquiries have led us to believe that a set of points could be significant in this inquiry, although there is a lot more work to do and we are waiting for further expert opinion," he said. |
"We are looking for them to give us an early indication of what caused this accident although it is far too early to tell at this point. | "We are looking for them to give us an early indication of what caused this accident although it is far too early to tell at this point. |
"Our inquiry at the moment is focusing on a set of points." | "Our inquiry at the moment is focusing on a set of points." |
He also confirmed maintenance had been carried out on the track during the past week, and said most of the passengers had been able to get away from the wreckage unaided. | He also confirmed maintenance had been carried out on the track during the past week, and said most of the passengers had been able to get away from the wreckage unaided. |
"When we arrived here a lot of people were in shock. But they were able to get away from the train... the majority were able to walk away," he said. | "When we arrived here a lot of people were in shock. But they were able to get away from the train... the majority were able to walk away," he said. |
Police have said the line where the crash happened could be closed for five or six days. | Police have said the line where the crash happened could be closed for five or six days. |
A spokesperson for Virgin Trains said: "The first thoughts of everyone at Virgin Trains are with the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives or been injured in this terrible accident. | |
"We will do whatever we can to offer assistance in the days ahead." | |
Driver locked in cabin | |
Ian Garnett, watch manager with Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, was one of the first people on the scene. | Ian Garnett, watch manager with Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, was one of the first people on the scene. |
He said most of the injured had been in the front two carriages of the nine-carriage train. | He said most of the injured had been in the front two carriages of the nine-carriage train. |
CONTACT NUMBERS Cumbria Police helpline: 0800 056 0146Police family liaison centre: 0800 40 50 40 National Rail Enquiries: 08457 48 49 50 | |
"The driver was locked inside his cabin for around an hour after we arrived and we had to use cutting equipment to free him," he said. | "The driver was locked inside his cabin for around an hour after we arrived and we had to use cutting equipment to free him," he said. |
"He was talking, but he had numerous injuries including head injuries and he also seemed to have a problem with his neck." | "He was talking, but he had numerous injuries including head injuries and he also seemed to have a problem with his neck." |
Mr Garnett said passengers had been very calm and that a male medical student travelling on the train had helped treat the injured. | Mr Garnett said passengers had been very calm and that a male medical student travelling on the train had helped treat the injured. |
Charles Belcher, managing director of Virgin West Coast, said the train's safety record had been closely checked. | Charles Belcher, managing director of Virgin West Coast, said the train's safety record had been closely checked. |
"We've examined the safety record of that particular train over the last two weeks to see if there's been any faults, any blips that we can put down to a problem of maintenance and safety, and it got a completely clean bill of health." | "We've examined the safety record of that particular train over the last two weeks to see if there's been any faults, any blips that we can put down to a problem of maintenance and safety, and it got a completely clean bill of health." |
One of the passengers, BBC executive Caroline Thomson, said the train "did a sort of bump". | One of the passengers, BBC executive Caroline Thomson, said the train "did a sort of bump". |
"It suddenly appeared to hit something and then lurched very, very badly from side to side in a very dramatic way." | "It suddenly appeared to hit something and then lurched very, very badly from side to side in a very dramatic way." |
The 22 passengers needed hospital treatment were taken to three hospitals, with the Royal Lancaster Infirmary and the Royal Preston Hospital admitting the most serious casualties. | The 22 passengers needed hospital treatment were taken to three hospitals, with the Royal Lancaster Infirmary and the Royal Preston Hospital admitting the most serious casualties. |
HAVE YOUR SAY It's very sad to see such an incident on what has become a very safe network Ibrahim, Bolton Send us your comments | |
A Cumbria Ambulance Service spokeswoman said all but one of the train's carriages had totally come off the tracks. | A Cumbria Ambulance Service spokeswoman said all but one of the train's carriages had totally come off the tracks. |
She added that the wreckage had been cleared of passengers, and that 65 people with minor injuries had been treated at the scene and a nearby farm, before being taken to the Castle Green Hotel in Kendal. | |
Emergency crews said they had faced difficult conditions, with pouring rain, waterlogged ground and narrow country lanes around the crash site. | Emergency crews said they had faced difficult conditions, with pouring rain, waterlogged ground and narrow country lanes around the crash site. |
The Pendolino tilting trains have been introduced by Virgin over the last three years and have a top speed of 125 mph. | The Pendolino tilting trains have been introduced by Virgin over the last three years and have a top speed of 125 mph. |
The train rolled down an embankment after derailing | |
Network Rail said the line speed for the area where the crash took place was about 95 mph. | Network Rail said the line speed for the area where the crash took place was about 95 mph. |
Virgin Trains have suspended services between Lancaster and Lockerbie, with replacement buses operating. Trains are running as normal to and from Lockerbie, and between London and Lancaster. | Virgin Trains have suspended services between Lancaster and Lockerbie, with replacement buses operating. Trains are running as normal to and from Lockerbie, and between London and Lancaster. |
A spokesman said passengers travelling between Scotland and London could use GNER East Coast trains instead. | A spokesman said passengers travelling between Scotland and London could use GNER East Coast trains instead. |
People worried about friends or relatives on the train are asked to ring a Cumbria Police helpline on 0800 056 0146 or a British Transport Police family liaison centre on 0800 40 50 40. | People worried about friends or relatives on the train are asked to ring a Cumbria Police helpline on 0800 056 0146 or a British Transport Police family liaison centre on 0800 40 50 40. |
Passengers wanting to travel through Cumbria, meanwhile, can ring National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 before starting journeys. | Passengers wanting to travel through Cumbria, meanwhile, can ring National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 before starting journeys. |
Are you in the area? Have you been involved? Send us your accounts using the form below. | Are you in the area? Have you been involved? Send us your accounts using the form below. |
You can send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 07725 100 100 | You can send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 07725 100 100 |
Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |
When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | When taking photos or filming please do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |