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| Checks on 700 sets of rail points | Checks on 700 sets of rail points |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Up to 700 sets of points across the entire rail network are to be checked as a "precaution" following the Cumbria crash, Network Rail has said. | Up to 700 sets of points across the entire rail network are to be checked as a "precaution" following the Cumbria crash, Network Rail has said. |
| Investigators earlier said the accident, in which a woman died, could have been caused by a points failure. | Investigators earlier said the accident, in which a woman died, could have been caused by a points failure. |
| Experts are focusing on one set that the Virgin Trains Pendolino ran across before derailing near Kendal. | Experts are focusing on one set that the Virgin Trains Pendolino ran across before derailing near Kendal. |
| Rail expert Christian Wolmar told the BBC that the points could have been defective with loose nuts and bolts. | Rail expert Christian Wolmar told the BBC that the points could have been defective with loose nuts and bolts. |
| Margaret Masson, 84, of Glasgow, died and eight other people were seriously hurt when the London to Glasgow train derailed at Grayrigg, near Kendal, at about 95mph on Friday evening. | Margaret Masson, 84, of Glasgow, died and eight other people were seriously hurt when the London to Glasgow train derailed at Grayrigg, near Kendal, at about 95mph on Friday evening. |
| Network Rail said engineers had already started the nationwide safety checks of between 600 and 700 sets of points. | Network Rail said engineers had already started the nationwide safety checks of between 600 and 700 sets of points. |
| How crash unfolded | How crash unfolded |
| The checks are to be carried out on high-speed rail lines on older tracks where trains travel above 85 miles per hour. | The checks are to be carried out on high-speed rail lines on older tracks where trains travel above 85 miles per hour. |
| Network Rail, which is responsible for maintaining track, hopes to complete the checks within the next 24 hours. | Network Rail, which is responsible for maintaining track, hopes to complete the checks within the next 24 hours. |
| Christian Wolmar told BBC News 24 he understood the circumstances were thought to be similar to those in the Potters Bar crash. | Christian Wolmar told BBC News 24 he understood the circumstances were thought to be similar to those in the Potters Bar crash. |
| In that crash, in May 2002, seven people died and 76 were injured when poorly maintained points derailed a train. | In that crash, in May 2002, seven people died and 76 were injured when poorly maintained points derailed a train. |
| "From what I understand, they have found these points in a similar condition to those at Potters Bar, with some missing nuts and the stretcher bar which keeps the rails properly apart apparently loosened," he said. | "From what I understand, they have found these points in a similar condition to those at Potters Bar, with some missing nuts and the stretcher bar which keeps the rails properly apart apparently loosened," he said. |
| We are devastated by the death of our nan Margaret Jones, granddaughter of Margaret Masson Family 'distraught' | We are devastated by the death of our nan Margaret Jones, granddaughter of Margaret Masson Family 'distraught' |
| Mr Wolmar said it was up to Network Rail to ensure that the points were properly maintained and that "things like loose bolts, loose bolts and nuts, were tightened up regularly". | Mr Wolmar said it was up to Network Rail to ensure that the points were properly maintained and that "things like loose bolts, loose bolts and nuts, were tightened up regularly". |
| He added: "But there is also the possibility that these nuts and bolts were maintained in the wrong way, or not sufficiently maintained, and that's why they were in that condition." | He added: "But there is also the possibility that these nuts and bolts were maintained in the wrong way, or not sufficiently maintained, and that's why they were in that condition." |
| The chief executive of Network Rail, John Armitt, acknowledged that there might have been a points failure. He said the points were last serviced earlier this month, and that track maintenance was carried out by Network Rail employees. | The chief executive of Network Rail, John Armitt, acknowledged that there might have been a points failure. He said the points were last serviced earlier this month, and that track maintenance was carried out by Network Rail employees. |
| CONTACT NUMBERS Cumbria Police helpline: 0800 056 0146Police family liaison centre: 0800 40 50 40 National Rail Enquiries: 08457 48 49 50 Advice for passengers | CONTACT NUMBERS Cumbria Police helpline: 0800 056 0146Police family liaison centre: 0800 40 50 40 National Rail Enquiries: 08457 48 49 50 Advice for passengers |
| Some 22 people, including Mrs Masson's daughter and son-in-law, Margaret and Richard Langley, were taken to hospital after the accident at 2015 GMT on Friday, while dozens more were "walking wounded". | Some 22 people, including Mrs Masson's daughter and son-in-law, Margaret and Richard Langley, were taken to hospital after the accident at 2015 GMT on Friday, while dozens more were "walking wounded". |
| Margaret Jones, 41, the granddaughter of Mrs Masson, from Cardonald in Glasgow, said the family was "devastated" by her death and the fact that her parents were in hospital. | Margaret Jones, 41, the granddaughter of Mrs Masson, from Cardonald in Glasgow, said the family was "devastated" by her death and the fact that her parents were in hospital. |
| Of the eight patients who were seriously injured, five are improving in hospital, while three remain in a serious condition. | Of the eight patients who were seriously injured, five are improving in hospital, while three remain in a serious condition. |
| Passengers suffered a mixture of head, back, neck, leg and some internal injuries. | Passengers suffered a mixture of head, back, neck, leg and some internal injuries. |
| The driver of the train, Ian Black, suffered a broken collar bone and a broken bone in his neck, his union Aslef has said. | The driver of the train, Ian Black, suffered a broken collar bone and a broken bone in his neck, his union Aslef has said. |
| Both the union and Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson said the former police officer, 46, was "a hero". | Both the union and Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson said the former police officer, 46, was "a hero". |
| Mr Black had come around a corner, Sir Richard said, to find the line defective before the train started to leave the line. | |
| "He's carried on sitting in his carriage for nearly half a mile, running the train on the stone - he could have tried to get back and protect himself but he didn't, and he's ended up quite badly injured. | |
| "He is a definitely a hero. In the sober light of day we will have to see if he can be recognised as such." | |
| Sir Richard also said the strength of the Pendolino train had helped to limit the number of casualties. | |
| British Transport Police incident officer Supt Philip Trendall said it was up to Network Rail and the train operators to decide when to reopen the line, but he warned it could take a week or more to complete the crash inquiry. | British Transport Police incident officer Supt Philip Trendall said it was up to Network Rail and the train operators to decide when to reopen the line, but he warned it could take a week or more to complete the crash inquiry. |
| Train services from the south are currently terminating at Lancaster and Preston, while train services from the north are terminating at Carlisle, and there is a bus service in between. | Train services from the south are currently terminating at Lancaster and Preston, while train services from the north are terminating at Carlisle, and there is a bus service in between. |
| Passengers who intend to travel on the West Coast Main Line should check the latest information with National Rail Enquiries. | Passengers who intend to travel on the West Coast Main Line should check the latest information with National Rail Enquiries. |
| 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. |