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Notes to editors

The rail industry report was published in September 2007. It fully explored the events that led up to the accident, how the derailment happened, what caused the accident and other underlying factors. It made a series of recommendations and actions, 33 in all, which we have been implementing over the past year (32 done, one nearing completion) and will help to prevent such a tragedy in the future. Some of the actions and changes made since the accident include: • The Lambrigg points have been removed and will not be replaced • Checks have been made on almost 1,500 sets of points nationwide with nothing out of the ordinary found • A new special self-locking nut has been introduced into points assemblies across the country to further improve this very robust design • Specialist 'points squads' have been created within the maintenance function • Inspection, audit and assurance improvements have been made and changes to the organisation structure implemented History • We estimate that over 3 trillion train movements have taken place safely without incident over points of this design • Fixed stretcher bar points are a well proven and very robust design that has been in use in the UK and across Europe since the 1940s with an almost exemplary safety record • The points at Lambrigg had been in service for over 30 years with no history of component failure until January 2007 • The Grayrigg accident happened on 23 February 2007 at approximately 8.12pm, involving the 17:15 London Euston to Glasgow service • The train was a class 390 Virgin Pendolino with nine carriages - five standard class, at front, four first at rear • The train was travelling at 95mph (in a 95mph limit) and all carriages were derailed as they went through a set of points at Lambrigg, near Grayrigg, Cumbria • There were 105 passengers on board and four train crew. One passenger died, and 28 were seriously injured.