Network Rail admits safety breach

30 March 2011, 17:23

Network Rail are to be sentenced for health and safety failings over the Potters Bar rail crash in May.

At St Albans crown court today (Wednesday March 30th) the date was fixed for the sentencing.

Seven people died in the crash at the railway station in May 2002.

At an inquest last year a points failure was blamed for the derailment 

The charge Network Rail has pleaded guilty to is that between 31 March 2001 and 11 May 2002, it failed to conduct its undertaking as the infrastructure controller for the national rail network in such a way as to ensure, so far as was reasonably practicable, that persons not in its employment who may be affected thereby were not exposed to risks to their safety, in that it failed to provide and implement suitable and sufficient training, standards, procedures, guidance or other specifications for the installation, maintenance and inspection of shallow-depth adjustable stretcher bar points.

The sentencing will take place on May 12.