Rail disaster inquest told of warnings

Defective points caused a train crash which claimed the lives of seven people – and two passengers had tried to raise concerns the nightbefore the derailment, an inquest has heard.

A judge due to hear evidence about the crash at Potters Bar in Hertfordshire, in May 2002 said two people made three separate reports about "rough rides".

One report had been "forgotten", another had been misinterpreted and on the third occasion a train manager had not responded to a passenger's concerns, Judge Michael Findlay Baker told jurors at the inquest in Letchworth, Hertfordshire.

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Checks had been made to the approach to Potters Bar station hours before the crash – but on the wrong line, said Judge Baker.

The jury of eight women and three men heard Judge Baker give a detailed outline of facts yesterday and they should start hearing other evidence today.

Judge Baker said passenger Terrence Moore – a rail worker – became concerned about "movement" as a train crossed points on the approach to Potters Bar at about 9pm on May 9 2002 – some 16 hours before the crash.

Mr Moore – a station announcer travelling north from King's Cross to Stevenage – reported his concerns to a member of staff at the ticket office when he arrived at Stevenage.

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The judge said the member of staff had been "busy" and did not log the report.

"He forgot," said the judge. "In short, he did nothing."

Mr Moore had then reported his concerns to a manager in the King's Cross signal box.

But the manager had thought Mr Moore was talking about the southbound line – not the northbound, said the judge.

The inquest is expected to last about three months, the judge said.