REPORT OF "NEAR MISS" ON LOCAL RAILWAY "EXTREMELY WORRYING"

27.10.03

Commenting on reports of a serious 'near miss' railway incident in the Alexandra Palace area, Lynne Featherstone, local councillor and Chair of the GLA's Transport Policy Committee, said:

"This report is extremely worrying, and the consequences clearly could have been disastrous. The whole incident needs a full investigation and I will be asking both Jarvis and Network rail for a full explanation.

"This will only add to widespread concerns about safety on the railway network and the relationship between maintenance and the operation of the track, in the London region and elsewhere."

Note:

You and Yours on BBC Radio 4 reported that the incident occurred "somewhere near Alexandra Palace." The report alleged that fish plates were left off the tracks after maintenance work was done.

Fish plates are vital in holding track together. The problem was not identified until the first train of the day was approaching the piece of track in question, even though Jarvis had earlier given assurances to Network Rail that the section of track was safe. Jarvis has suspended one member of staff.

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