Early speculation of causes

Quotes from BBC website 24 February 2007

Investigators say no cause has yet been established, but police said their inquiry was focusing on a set of points which could be "significant".

The leader of the Rail Maritime and Transport Union, Bob Crow, told ITV News: "All our indications are that people on the scene are saying that it was a points failure. And I think people can dismiss the idea that it was a cow on the track or vandalism."

Quote from Reuters 24 February 2007
"A defective track caused a high-speed train accident in Cumbria which killed an elderly woman and seriously injured five other people, according to Virgin boss Richard Branson." "I've been told the line was defective," Branson, the chairman of Virgin Group, told reporters. "I've been told that it was the points that failed."

Rail accident investigator Thomas Edwards said their inquiry would concentrate on a set of points. "Having a set of points immediately prior to an accident always makes those points very suspect, and given the information we have ... that's the focus of attention," said John Armitt, the chief executive of track operator Network Rail. "There is a possibility that it has been something which has occurred which Network Rail is responsible for. I hope that's not the case, but I have to live with the reality that it could be something which has gone wrong under our watch." Police had earlier said routine maintenance work had been carried out on the track during the previous week.