Injury Lawyer's Concerns Over Grayrigg Rail Crash

An injury lawyerinjury lawyer has spoken out about his concerns that the fatal rail Grayrigg rail crash could be repeated and that lessons have not be learned.

Andrew Tucker the head of personal injury at a law firm, which represented clients who were injured in the Grayrigg rail crash in 2007.

He said: "In recent years we have represented a number of victims of rail crashes and are deeply concerned that, despite the frequency and severity of these incidents, it has been decided not to carry out a full public inquiry into the Grayrigg and Potters Bar derailments.

"At the time of these incidents safety checks on the rails were carried out on foot and safety officer were charged with walking up and down to look for faults. On February 18 2007 such a safety check was scheduled around the Grayrigg area but did not take place and on February 23rd a Virgin train was derailed killing one passenger and injuring a further 86."

He also added: "The similarities between the 2002 Potters Bar and the 2007 Grayrigg disasters, where deteriorating points were found to be the cause must prompt us to question whether or not sufficiently robust safety procedures are in place to protect passengers.

"Although an inquest will determine the causes of death for the families of those who tragically lost their lives it will not serve, as an inquiry would, to determine what the fundamental failings of the railway system are. As the number of people using the railways increases it is vital that the public have confidence in the network going forward as pressure on the infrastructure increases."

Public inquiry

Mr Tucker concluded by saying: "We feel that only a public inquiry considering these and other cases such as the 2000 Hatfield disaster, in which four passengers were killed, would serve to highlight the wider failings of the rail industry, answer the questions of grieving family members and ensure that the same mistakes are avoided going forward."

This comes after announcements stated that there will not be a public inquiry into the Grayrigg rail disaster which caused one fatality and left 22 other passengers injured.

However, Lord Adonis, the transport Secretary, ruled out a joint public inquiry into the South Lakeland accident and the Potters Bar rail crash, saying it was in the "public interest" for the two separate inquests, which have already begun, to continue as they were.

"I regret the length of time taken to reach this point, and the anxiety that this may have caused to those who have lost loved ones," he said.

He added: "Having considered the material before me, I am satisfied that separate inquests will allow for appropriate further independent investigations of the accidents, with the bereaved and injured able to participate and express their views and concerns in a transparent forum open to public scrutiny."

An initial report by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, (RAIB) exposed that the accident took place because of a faulty set of points.

Lord Adonis said he was satisfied that the RAIB had carried out a thorough investigation into the Grayrigg accident, including consideration of relevant issues arising from earlier accidents, including Potters Bar.

He added: "In particular, I note that the RAIB consulted with key stakeholders, including the bereaved, prior to the publication of its final report, during which process no further lines of work or testing by RAIB were identified.

He concluded: "There will be a further independent examination of the accident during an inquest, which I am satisfied, is capable of addressing any relevant questions that remain unanswered."

Legal and financial writer