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| Network Rail indicates guilty plea over Grayrigg crash | Network Rail indicates guilty plea over Grayrigg crash |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Network Rail is to admit health and safety breaches over the Grayrigg crash in Cumbria in which a woman died and more than 80 people were hurt. | Network Rail is to admit health and safety breaches over the Grayrigg crash in Cumbria in which a woman died and more than 80 people were hurt. |
| Margaret Masson, 84, from Glasgow, died after the Virgin train derailed on the West Coast Main Line near the village of Grayrigg. | Margaret Masson, 84, from Glasgow, died after the Virgin train derailed on the West Coast Main Line near the village of Grayrigg. |
| Appearing at Lancaster Magistrates' Court, Network Rail (NR) indicated it would admit health and safety breaches. | |
| The case was adjourned until 2 April. NR apologised to Mrs Masson's family. | |
| In November, an inquest jury found poorly-maintained points were to blame for causing her death. | |
| 'There were faults' | |
| The train went over a "degraded" set of points at 92mph and careered down an embankment, leaving 88 people injured, including two members of the train crew. | The train went over a "degraded" set of points at 92mph and careered down an embankment, leaving 88 people injured, including two members of the train crew. |
| David Higgins, Network Rail chief executive, said it was obvious the company was to blame within hours of the crash. | |
| He said: "The Grayrigg derailment resulting in the tragic death of Mrs Masson was a terrible event. | |
| "Within hours of the event it was clear that we were responsible, that the infrastructure was at fault, so it is right that we plead guilty. | |
| "We again apologise to Mrs Masson's family for the undoubted grief this has caused them. | |
| "While there were faults at hand in 2007, we have been determined to recognise what we got wrong and put it right." | |
| The criminal proceedings were brought by the Office of Rail Regulation. | |
| Network Rail, which is responsible for track maintenance, is facing charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act. | |
| Stretcher bars holding the moveable rails a set distance apart failed, causing the train to derail, an earlier hearing heard. | |
| The case was sent to Preston Crown Court, where NR will face a fine. | |
| Mr Higgins added: "Since the accident, much has changed in the way we plan and carry out maintenance work with new systems put in place to improve the quality and safety of our railway." |