Hatfield Rail Crash: Fatal Accidents and Who Took the Blame
Posted on: Wednesday, 7 September 2005, 06:00 CDT
POTTERS BAR
A set of points outside the Hertfordshire station broke when an express train sped over them on 10 May 2002. Seven died in the crash. Jarvis Rail, which maintained the track, said sabotage might have caused the derailment. Two years later the company apologised for its role in the disaster. A prosecution for manslaughter may result from British Transport Police inquiries.
n PADDINGTON
On 5 October 1999, 31 people died when a Thames Trains commuter service crashed into a Great Western express. The Thames Trains driver had passed a red light. Railtrack was criticised for failing to simplify the complex signalling, and Thames for not offering the driver proper training. The CPS has not decided whether to press charges.
n SOUTHALL
On 19 September 1997 a First Great Western Express went through a red light on its way into London Paddington and hit a freight train as it was crossing in front of it. Seven people died. The train operating company was fined pounds 2m for breaches of health and safety legislation " a record at the time. The company had failed to ensure that Automatic Train Protection (ATP), which was available on the route, was operational. ATP automatically stops trains at red lights. The mechanism is now used on the route.
n WATFORD
A driver was prosecuted for manslaughter after driving on 8 August 1996 through a red light into an empty train, killing one of his passengers. He was found not guilty after it was discovered that management had made a series of errors. An 'overlap' after the signal " a safety margin " was less than the prescribed 200 yards. Signalling was not well-aligned, and boards announcing speed restrictions had been put in the wrong place. The case was the first of its kind.
n CLAPHAM
On 12 December 1988 three trains collided at Clapham Junction, killing 35. British Rail admitted culpability. A signalling technician, who had been working long hours as part of a BR initiative to save money, had not secured cabling correctly and vibration caused wires to touch, making a signal show green instead of red.
Source: Independent, The; London (UK)
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