26/02/2007

Initial report into Cumbria train crash published

An initial report into the Cumbria train crash has revealed that a vital piece of the rail track was missing, according to reports.

It is understood that a stretcher bar, which join the rails and keep them at a set distance apart, was missing from a set of points to the south of where Friday's fatal crash took place.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch is investigating the accident.

One person was killed and eight others were seriously injured when a Virgin Pendolino train, travelling between London and Glasgow, derailed at Grayrigg on Friday night.

The woman who died has been named as 84-year-old Margaret Masson. Her daughter and son-in-law - Margaret Langley, 61 and Richard Langley, 63 - were also injured in the crash and are in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

Train driver, Iain Blake, 46, who was praised by Virgin boss Richard Branson for his bravery, is also in a serious but stable condition in hospital. He sustained a broken collarbone in the crash, as well as a broken bone in his neck.

Network Rail conducted extra checks on 700 similar points following the crash and said that nothing was found that would cause concern.

(KMcA/EF)


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