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| Crash inquiry to focus on points | Crash inquiry to focus on points |
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| The inquiry into the Cumbria rail crash in which one person died will focus on a set of points, investigators say. | The inquiry into the Cumbria rail crash in which one person died will focus on a set of points, investigators say. |
| An eighty-year-old woman was killed and five other people were seriously hurt when the train derailed. | 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. |
| Network Rail, which is responsible for maintaining track, said it was now checking points in the crash area. | |
| 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, named as Ian Black from Scotland, was among those seriously injured. | The driver of the train, named as Ian Black from Scotland, 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 | It suddenly appeared to hit something and then lurched very, very badly from side to side in a very dramatic way Caroline Thomson, passenger |
| Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson arrived at the scene of the accident after returning from a holiday in Switzerland. | |
| He said he had been told that points were to blame for the accident, and added it was a "sad day". | He said he had been told that points were to blame for the accident, and added it was a "sad day". |
| "Everyone is going to have to learn from this incident and Network Rail are going to have to look at this track problem and make sure nothing like this ever happens again," he said. | "Everyone is going to have to learn from this incident and Network Rail are going to have to look at this track problem and make sure nothing like this ever happens again," he said. |
| He also said the Pendolino was "built like a tank" and said the accident could have been much worse if it had involved an old train. | He also said the Pendolino was "built like a tank" and said the accident could have been much worse if it had involved an old train. |
| Sir Richard added that the line could be re-opened in two weeks and described Mr Black as "definitely a hero". | Sir Richard added that the line could be re-opened in two weeks and described Mr Black as "definitely a hero". |
| The chief executive of Network Rail, John Armitt, acknowledged that there might have been a points failure. | |
| He said: "A points failure can obviously be due to various causes, but clearly there is a possibility that it has been something which has occurred which Network Rail is responsible for, but at the moment I cannot say that. | |
| "I hope that's not the case but I have to live with the reality that it could be something that has gone wrong under our watch." | |
| British Transport Police and other emergency services will hold a press conference at the crash scene at 1400 GMT. | British Transport Police and other emergency services will hold a press conference at the crash scene at 1400 GMT. |
| When the train derailed, all but one of the carriages slipped down the embankment. | When the train derailed, all but one of the carriages slipped down the embankment. |
| One came to rest in the air at a sharp angle, while the front of the train doubled back on the carriages. | One came to rest in the air at a sharp angle, while the front of the train doubled back on the carriages. |
| Chief Superintendent Martyn Ripley of British Transport Police said the points could prove "significant". | |
| He also 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." |
| Line closed | Line closed |
| 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. |
| CONTACT NUMBERS Cumbria Police helpline: 0800 056 0146Police family liaison centre: 0800 40 50 40 National Rail Enquiries: 08457 48 49 50 | CONTACT NUMBERS Cumbria Police helpline: 0800 056 0146Police family liaison centre: 0800 40 50 40 National Rail Enquiries: 08457 48 49 50 |
| Bob Crow, General Secretary of the Rail Maritime and Transport Union, said the inquiry must be allowed to find out the full facts of what happened. | Bob Crow, General Secretary of the Rail Maritime and Transport Union, said the inquiry must be allowed to find out the full facts of what happened. |
| But he added: "If points failure is the cause there must be a robust investigation into the management system's failings that led to it and there must be no attempt simply to scapegoat staff." | But he added: "If points failure is the cause there must be a robust investigation into the management system's failings that led to it and there must be no attempt simply to scapegoat staff." |
| Driver locked in cabin | 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. |
| One of the rail carriages was forced upright following the crash | One of the rail carriages was forced upright following the crash |
| "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. |
| 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 needing 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 needing 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 | 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 |
| Kevin McGee, chief executive of the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay which runs the three hospital sites, said the five patients in a serious condition in Lancaster had suffered a mixture of head, back, neck and some internal injuries. | Kevin McGee, chief executive of the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay which runs the three hospital sites, said the five patients in a serious condition in Lancaster had suffered a mixture of head, back, neck and some internal injuries. |
| 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. |
| 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. |