British Transport Police press statements

Train derailment in Cumbria 25 February

British Transport Police are this morning (Feb 25, 2007) continuing to coordinate the investigation into the derailment on Friday evening. Working in partnership with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) and Her Majesty’s Railway Inspectorate (HMRI), this is an extremely methodical and technical process that is likely to continue for a number of days. Today, detailed forensic examinations will take place on the whole scene. Access to the scene remains complicated due to the isolated location and weather conditions. Today work will begin to prepare site for heavy lifting equipment to access the scene. At this stage we can’t say exactly when that lifting equipment will be on site. Approximately 75 BTP officers remain at the scene, including senior officers, forensic teams, CID officers, and Police Community Support Officers. Road closures remain in place around the scene for the foreseeable future. BTP are working with partner agencies to minimise disruption to local communities. A Casualty Bureau has been established by Cumbria Constabulary for anyone wanting information about relatives who may have been on the train. The telephone number is 0800 056 0146 or from outside the UK 020 7158 0198. The woman who died in the derailment has been named as Margaret Masson, aged 84, from the Cardonald area of Glasgow. 11 people remain in hospital, including the train driver and two of Mrs Masson's relatives, who were also injured in the crash. Investigative work is set to continue for some days and is focussing on a set of points south of the scene of the derailment. The derailment occurred at around 20.25 hours on Friday, 23 February. The 1715 hours London Euston to Glasgow Virgin Trains service derailed on the West Coast Main Line near Bracken Hall, north of Kendal. One person died and 22 were injured. The train had nine carriages with approximately 150 passengers on board. Mrs Masson died in hospital. The train was travelling at 95 mph when it derailed and the Fire Service rescued seven people from the first carriage and one person from the second carriage. All nine carriages were derailed. The incident occurred at a remote rural location with difficult access routes. However, all agencies responded quickly and have been effectively coordinating the rescue and recovery operation. These types of major incidents are planned for and the emergency services regularly review contingency plans and take part in table top and live exercises to ensure that procedures work smoothly.

Train derailment - family statement

Margaret Masson, aged 84, from the Cardonald area of Glasgow died in the derailment in Cumbria on 23 February. The Langley family have issued the following statement: Margaret Jones (41), daughter of Margaret Langley (61) and Richard Langley (63) from Southport, and whose grandmother Margaret Masson died in the train crash, said: "We are devastated by the death of our nan and about mum and dad being so very poorly. "We are distraught but we are all here for our parents and we ask that we are left alone to cope during this difficult time." Margaret has two other sisters, Carol Langley and Maureen Langley and a brother Jimmy Langley.