Times OnLine om afsporingen 23.02.2007 ved Grayrigg

One person died and many others were injured when a crowded Virgin express train crashed in Cumbria last night. Five people have serious injuries and are being treated alongside others at various hospitals in the region.

The woman who died was named this afternoon as Margaret Masson, 84, from Glasgow.

Passengers have told how the Virgin service, a 125mph 'tilting' Pendolino train which was reportedly travelling at around 95mph, shuddered violently before skewing off the tracks. Four carriages flipped over and one slid down an embankment with debris strewn over up to a mile either side of the line.

A huge rescue operation involving RAF helicopters and dozens of ambulances was launched after passengers were trapped in the train for more than four hours because fallen power lines made access by emergency workers difficult.

Authorities reported up to 80 casualties. Thirteen people were taken to hospital in a „critical or serious condition“.

Virgin chief Sir Richard Branson arrived at the scene of the accident after visiting casualties in hospital today.

Sir Richard said: „I was on a family holiday abroad when I heard of the accident last night and I returned as soon as I could. I have been visiting the injured in hospital this morning and our train driver.

„I wanted to come to the scene to see the damage and also to thank all the emergency services for the work they have done. I will be speaking with the people who have worked on the accident and all the officials involved.“

Branson was forced to walk on foot to the scene as he was not allowed past a police cordon and gasped as he saw the wreckage come into view.

He stressed the safety features of the Pendolino and said he feared the accident could have been much worse if it had involved an old train.

Sir Richard's reference to a 'defective' line came after British Transport Police confirmed their investigation was 'focusing' on a set of points.

Chief Superintendent Martyn Ripley also said maintenance had been carried out on the track in Grayrigg, Cumbria, in the past week. „Our inquiries have led us to believe that a set of points could be significant in this inquiry although there is a lot more work to do and we are waiting for further expert opinion,“ he said.

He said it was „far too early“ to say if there would be a criminal investigation into the accident, which happened as the tilting train reportedly reached speeds of around 95mph.

Mr Ripley said: „Our investigation is under way. There is going to be a lot of work we are going to have to undertake. I anticipate that will go on for a number of days.“

He also said it was „little short of a miracle“ that more people were not killed.

One of the first rescuers to reach the accident described the scene of devastation which greeted him.

Ian Garnett, watch manager with Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, said: „When we arrived, the only light was coming from one carriage and when we approached over the hill we initially only saw two carriages and thought it was a small train which, at the time, was a relief.

„But it quickly became apparent that it was a much more major incident there were so many carriages involved.“

Mr Garnett said there was no screaming or shouting and all the passengers remained calm with most of them staying inside the carriages. He said conditions were rainy, dark and cold.

He added: „The first two carriages were where the most injured people were located.

„The driver was locked inside his cabin for around an hour after we arrived and we had to use cutting equipment to free him.

„He was talking, but he had numerous injuries including head injuries and he also seemed to have a problem with his neck.“

Mr Garnett described how he climbed inside the carriage which had fallen on its side and had to walk on the luggage rails to stand upright.

He said passengers were very cool and calm and that a male medical student who was travelling on the train had helped treat the injured people.

Local farmers also went to the scene and provided their homes for the walking wounded to be treated in.

The Rail Maritime and Transport Union expressed „horror“ at the crash and said if there had been a points failure there must be a full investigation.

Ruth Colton, a passenger on the train, said she and others had to climb out of the top of their carriage.

She said she was reading a book when the journey became bumpy, like the train was being battered by heavy winds, „as if we were on a plane“, before derailing.

She said the train flipped over and items such as bottles and bags were „flying everywhere“.

Caroline Thomson, a passenger in the middle of the train, said that trapped passengers from other carriages were beating on the window.

She said that another female passenger had a very badly hurt back, and others had suffered bad cuts. She thought that injuries might be much more severe towards the front of the train.

„It was a pretty crowded train,“ she said, „There weren’t people sitting in the aisles, thank goodness.

„For a minute you thought it would right itself, you thought, don’t worry, it’ll be fine. You knew it was something a bit more serious than normal but you thought we’d gone a bit faster or something — it’ll sort itself.

„Then the swaying became very dramatic and it was clear. You suddenly thought, crikey, it’s off the track, this is going to be very serious, and there was a moment as it turned on its side when you thought, uh-uh, am I going to be very seriously hurt?

„We were in coach D and I fear it must have been worse at the front but I don’t know. At the moment I can see nothing, one of the windows is on the ground and the other is sky.

„Everyone has been helping everyone else and there has been a lot of searching around for everyone’s mobile phones, supporting each other.“

Paul Thumath, 41, a security guard from Balloch, in Loch Lomond, said: “A man in front of me flew right past me when the carriage tipped over onto its side. It was terrifying — things were flying everywhere.

“I have only got a bump to my head and I’m really lucky. It is amazing to look at the carnage and think only person has died.”

Concerned relatives were told they could call a hotline set up by the British Transport Police - 0800 0560146.

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