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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Network Rail admits crash errors | Network Rail admits crash errors |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Network Rail is facing an unlimited fine after admitting health and safety breaches relating to the 1999 Ladbroke Grove rail crash that claimed 31 lives. | Network Rail is facing an unlimited fine after admitting health and safety breaches relating to the 1999 Ladbroke Grove rail crash that claimed 31 lives. |
| It admitted charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Sentencing was adjourned to 18 December. | It admitted charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Sentencing was adjourned to 18 December. |
| The crash happened when a Thames Trains train passed a red signal and hit a Great Western express. | |
| Network Rail pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the signal was clearly visible from a sufficient distance. | Network Rail pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the signal was clearly visible from a sufficient distance. |
| Relatives of three of those who died, who attended the 20-minute hearing, called the adjournment yet another example of "prevarication" by Network Rail. | |
| Risk creation | Risk creation |
| The charge the company admitted also said part of the signal had been obscured by a large insulator. | The charge the company admitted also said part of the signal had been obscured by a large insulator. |
| Network Rail, which owns and operates the entire rail infrastructure, had failed to ensure "so far as was reasonably practicable that persons not in its employment who might be affected thereby were not thereby exposed to risks to their health and safety", it said. | Network Rail, which owns and operates the entire rail infrastructure, had failed to ensure "so far as was reasonably practicable that persons not in its employment who might be affected thereby were not thereby exposed to risks to their health and safety", it said. |
| We are going to stick this out Linda Di Lieto,Bereaved mother | We are going to stick this out Linda Di Lieto,Bereaved mother |
| Covering two A4 sheets of paper, the charge also said the signal configuration at the crash scene had been "found nowhere else in the UK". | Covering two A4 sheets of paper, the charge also said the signal configuration at the crash scene had been "found nowhere else in the UK". |
| It further criticised Network Rail - formerly Railtrack - for failing to ensure a signal sighting committee met, not only following equipment installation in 1995, but also after six Spad (Signals Passed At Danger) incidents between 1996 and 1998. | It further criticised Network Rail - formerly Railtrack - for failing to ensure a signal sighting committee met, not only following equipment installation in 1995, but also after six Spad (Signals Passed At Danger) incidents between 1996 and 1998. |
| The company also admitted failing to conduct any "adequate risk assessment" or investigation following the Spads. | The company also admitted failing to conduct any "adequate risk assessment" or investigation following the Spads. |
| 'Unused material' | 'Unused material' |
| Its guilty plea is an admission of risk creation - but not an acceptance of responsibility for the deaths and injuries caused by the crash. | |
| At London's Blackfriars Crown Court Judge, Aidan Marron QC adjourned sentencing until 18 December, when Network Rail will indicate the full basis of its guilty plea in writing. | At London's Blackfriars Crown Court Judge, Aidan Marron QC adjourned sentencing until 18 December, when Network Rail will indicate the full basis of its guilty plea in writing. |
| They have put all the bereaved families through torture Maureen Groves,Bereaved mother | They have put all the bereaved families through torture Maureen Groves,Bereaved mother |
| Nigel Sweeney QC, defending, had asked for the adjournment to allow time for a mass of "unused material" to be examined. | Nigel Sweeney QC, defending, had asked for the adjournment to allow time for a mass of "unused material" to be examined. |
| But Linda Di Lieto, whose son, Sam, a 24-year-old Cellnet sim designer manager, from Bloomsbury, central London, was killed on the Thames train, said: "It seems it is just a game to them. | |
| Legal costs | Legal costs |
| "How many times can they keep delaying? This has been going on for seven years. | "How many times can they keep delaying? This has been going on for seven years. |
| "But we are going to stick this out. We are not going to vanish." | "But we are going to stick this out. We are not going to vanish." |
| Railtrack killed my daughter Robin Kellow,Bereaved father | Railtrack killed my daughter Robin Kellow,Bereaved father |
| Maureen Groves, whose daughter, Juliet, 25, a chartered accountant from Chiswick, west London, was also on the three-carriage local service, said: "They are playing for time, just trying to wear us down. | Maureen Groves, whose daughter, Juliet, 25, a chartered accountant from Chiswick, west London, was also on the three-carriage local service, said: "They are playing for time, just trying to wear us down. |
| "The legal costs of all this must be staggering and could have gone on making the railway safer. | "The legal costs of all this must be staggering and could have gone on making the railway safer. |
| 'Lessons learnt' | 'Lessons learnt' |
| "They have wasted so much money and they have put all the bereaved families through torture." | "They have wasted so much money and they have put all the bereaved families through torture." |
| Robin Kellow, whose daughter, Elaine, 24, an IT worker from Paddington, central London, was also among the fatalities, said: "Railtrack killed my daughter. Everybody knows they did." | Robin Kellow, whose daughter, Elaine, 24, an IT worker from Paddington, central London, was also among the fatalities, said: "Railtrack killed my daughter. Everybody knows they did." |
| Lessons have been learnt and the rail industry has changed enormously for the better over the past seven years Network Rail | Lessons have been learnt and the rail industry has changed enormously for the better over the past seven years Network Rail |
| A Network Rail spokesman said: "The Ladbroke Grove tragedy was a terrible event for everyone involved. | A Network Rail spokesman said: "The Ladbroke Grove tragedy was a terrible event for everyone involved. |
| "Lessons have been learnt and the rail industry has changed enormously for the better over the past seven years." | |
| The introduction of a Train Protection and Warning System that applies a train's brakes if it is approaching a red signal too quickly to stop had "greatly reduced the risk of an accident", the statement added. | |
| Public inquiry | Public inquiry |
| "This change, along with many others, has helped to make rail travel today the safest form of transport." | "This change, along with many others, has helped to make rail travel today the safest form of transport." |
| More than 400 people were injured in the crash on 5 October, 1999. | More than 400 people were injured in the crash on 5 October, 1999. |
| Thames Trains and Railtrack were both criticised in a public inquiry report by Lord Cullen. | Thames Trains and Railtrack were both criticised in a public inquiry report by Lord Cullen. |
| Thames Trains pleaded guilty to health and safety offences in relation to the 1999 crash and was fined £2m in April 2004. | Thames Trains pleaded guilty to health and safety offences in relation to the 1999 crash and was fined £2m in April 2004. |