Faulty infrastructure not checked, finds train crash report

A FAULTY set of points was the “immediate cause” of the fatal Cumbria train derailment, an interim accident report said last night.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) reported that one of three stretcher bars, which keep moving rails a set distance apart, was missing, the other two were fractured and there were bolts missing,

Consequently, the London to Scotland Virgin Pendolino tilting train moving over the tracks could not follow its proper path and derailed at Grayrigg in Cumbria on Friday night.

There was also evidence that the last scheduled visual inspection of the track on February 18 by Network Rail (NR) — the infrastructure company responsible for the track — did not take place, the RAIB report said.

There was no evidence the signals, the condition of the train or the way it was being driven had contributed to the accident, the report said.

Rail unions called for a public inquiry into the accident. An 84-year-old woman died in hospital after the crash and 22 others needed hospital treatment.

And Virgin train driver, Iain Black — who has been hailed a hero for his actions in trying to control the train — last night paid tribute to the emergency services and said he was “distraught” that somebody had died.

NR chief executive, John Armitt, said his company was “devastated” at the RAIB findings and that NR accepted the report in its entirety. He apologised to all those “affected by the failure of the infrastructure”.

Virgin boss, Richard Branson, said he took his hat off to NR “for taking it on the chin” and that the report showed the strength of the Pendolino carriages, which did not break up in the crash.

Before the interim report came out, the four grandchildren of the woman who died — Margaret “Peggy” Masson — paid tribute to their “generous, loving nan”.

One of the injured passengers, Graeme Stewart, 28, speaking at Royal Preston Hospital, said: “I travel on the train all the time so I need to know it’s safe before I get on the train again.”