Video: Anguish as service marks 10th anniversary of Selby rail crash

Hart, who was jailed after being convicted of 10 charges of causing death by dangerous driving, chose to mark the occasion by claiming “fate” was to blame.

But speaking outside a memorial service to mark the 10th anniversary at St Paul’s Church, in Hensall, North Yorkshire, Judith Cairncross, sister of victim Raymond Robson, a GNER guard, called Hart’s comments “awful”.

“It tears at your heart strings after 10 years that he can’t acknowledge he was responsible,” she said. “He started the chain reaction.

“He was responsible and he may have some peace but we certainly don’t. There are still some injured souls out there. His comments were awful.”

Six passengers and four rail staff died and 82 people were injured when two trains collided after Hart’s Land Rover plunged off the M62 into the path of one of them at Great Heck, near Selby, on February 28, 2001.

More than 100 people affected by the crash filled the church to capacity yesterday, many with ashen faces showing the burden of grief is still heavy.

But there was also a message of hope and renewal from those leading the service.

Bishop of Doncaster, the Rt Rev Cyril Ashton, said: “All that mourning never completely disappears. But life can be lived after tragedy with new hope, and even with joy.”

Pointing to the “poignant example” of James Dunn – the son of the Freightliner driver who died, Steve Dunn – the bishop said: “James is now a train driver himself and is obviously well respected, as was his father. He is a sign, it seems to me, of real hope.”

The bishop paid tribute to the courage of the families of all 10 men, and 10 candles were lit in remembrance.