British Government makes safety pledge over rail crash probe

Any recommendations for urgent safety improvements during the investigation into the Cumbria train derailment will be acted upon immediately, British Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander pledged today.

But he warned that a final report into the crash will take ``some months to prepare'' as he updated MPs about initial conclusions.

Mr Douglas said that the "indications" were that the points at the site were the immediate cause of the incident.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) had found no evidence to suggest that the train's journey was anything "other than normal" until the derailment.

Mr Douglas continued: ``In light of their interim report, we know how the accident happened. Now we and the travelling public need to know why.

"Let me assure the House that if in the course of their investigations the investigators discover something which needs to be done to improve safety it will be done immediately."

His Tory shadow, Chris Grayling said: "It is clearly a matter for serious concern that an accident like this could take place on one of our most important rail routes.

"It also appears to have been the case that there may have been an operational failure within Network Rail and this must be addressed as a matter of urgency."