Worker short-cut

This sounds like pure speculation to me, but was reported in the Independent online on 28 February 2007

Track workers may have deliberately dismantled the points which caused the rail crash in Cumbria last Friday.

Staff working on the line - possibly for a private contractor - may have removed vital components as a short cut to complete the work quickly, according to industry sources.

The industry sources argued that workers may have taken the points apart in order to switch a vehicle from one track to another. Under normal circumstances the special crossover can only be operated by line-side personnel if it has been "released" by a signaller. The points are only used for engineering work and during emergencies.

The industry insider said the evidence pointed to maintenance staff taking the points apart so that they could switch a vehicle from one track to another without the involvement or authorisation of the signaller. Clearly the staff then failed to reassemble the equipment.