Summary
IT IS likely to be months - and the outcome of a more detailed inquiry - before the full facts are known about the cause of the train crash in Cumbria. It is with this caveat firmly in place that the disturbing findings of an initial report by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch should be viewed. It found that one of the three stretcher bars or "sleepers" was not in position; one had nuts and bolts missing, and two were fractured. It added that there was evidence that the last scheduled inspection of the points, known as Lambrigg 2B, on 18 February did not take place, despite previous assurances to the contrary.
Thanks to the bravery of the train driver and the safety features incorporated into the design of the carriages, the death and injury toll of this major accident on the London-Glasgow main line was astonishingly low. Looking at the dramatic pictures of the derailed compartments, it is not hard to envisage that in other circumstances the cost in human life would have been far higher. But the fact that such a derailment occurred, on a main network line, and with memories of recent major rail disasters still fresh, almost beggars belief. How could it be, given the huge amounts spent on rail safety and the company's earlier protestations about its inspection regime, that such an accident can still occur?See the full content of this document
Extract
Leader: Out of Crash Must Come Change
Network Rail, the state-owned successor to Railtrack, has at least learnt one lesson from the tragic disasters that did for its predecessor: it has quickly accepted responsibility. John Armitt, the chi...
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