Rail firm sorry over death on crossing

Network Rail has issued a "full and complete" apology to the family of a woman who was killed when two cars were hit by a passenger train on a level crossing.

Jane Harding, 52, from Marden, Herefordshire, died after she was airlifted to hospital following the accident on the crossing in Moreton-on-Lugg, Herefordshire, on Saturday. Her husband was treated for minor injuries.

Yesterday, Network Rail said, although investigations were continuing, it considered the accident was "most likely to have been due in some way to Network Rail".

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A statement said the 8.30am Arriva Trains Wales service from Manchester Piccadilly to Milford Haven hit two cars on the level crossing at Moreton-on-Lugg at about 10.30am on Saturday.

"Network Rail immediately started a full investigation into the causes of this tragic event, led by a senior company director, brought in from Scotland," it said. "It will be thorough and comprehensive and its findings will be directly reported back to the executive directors of Network Rail."

Independent investigations are also under way by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch and the British Transport Police.

"The investigations continue apace and will be critical in finding out the causes and will look for ways to prevent anything like it from happening again," the statement continued.

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"Although the investigations are in their infancy, and we have yet to understand exactly how this tragedy happened, regrettably, we consider that the accident is most likely to have been due in some way to Network Rail.

"Therefore, Network Rail has extended a full and complete apology to the family. We would also like to extend this apology to everyone who has been so deeply affected by the accident and to the community of Moreton-on-Lugg."

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