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ORR responds to the Grayrigg report by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch

1 October 2008
ORR/31/08

The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) today welcomed the publication by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) of its report into the Grayrigg incident.

Ian Prosser, director of rail safety at ORR said:

“We welcome the publication of the RAIB report, and will carefully consider the report and its recommendations. As the independent health and safety regulator for the rail network, we will ensure that appropriate action is taken forward in a timely way by the industry and ourselves.”

Notes to editors

  1. ORR is the safety regulator for Britain’s railways.  Its responsibilities include investigating breaches of health and safety legislation and overseeing appropriate implementation of RAIB recommendations.
  2. The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) is the independent railway accident investigation organisation for the UK. It investigates railway accidents and incidents on the UK's railways to improve safety, not to establish blame.
  3. The incident occurred at Grayrigg in Cumbria on 23 February 2007. One passenger died and there were serious injuries to 28 passengers when a Virgin Pendolino train travelling at 95 mph derailed.
  4. RAIB published its first interim investigation report on 26 February 2007, and a progress report on 3 October 2007.
  5. Separate investigations by both ORR and British Transport Police are still ongoing. ORR’s investigation continues, focusing on whether any health and safety offences have been committed.
  6. Since the accident, ORR has carried out a number of targeted inspection projects relating to the circumstances and has served two improvement notices on Network Rail, one of which is currently the subject of an appeal to the Employment Tribunal.

ORR Press Office – 020 7282 2007/2141

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