THE company which looks after railway infastructure has been held partly responsible for the Grayrigg train derailment last year, in which a woman died and 86 people were injured.

The independent investigation into the accident which took place at 8.12pm on February 26 found the Virgin Pendolino service from London Euston to Glasgow derailed when it passed over points at Lambrigg, which had deteriorated to an “unsafe state.”

Network Rail’s “incomplete understanding” of the points was an “underlying factor” in the Grayrigg rail crash last year, according to the report published yesterday (Thursday) by the Rail Investigation Branch.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron has reiterated his calls for a public inquiry into Grayrigg and Potters Bar.

He said: “Quite properly, this RAIB report only looked at the Grayrigg derailment.

"However, naturally all of us will be drawing comparisons with other points related tragedies, especially Potters Bar.

"The conclusions of this report only underline the need for a full public enquiry to look at wider safety issues.”

For the full story, see The Westmorland Gazette (Friday).