Rail inquiry chief quits

The man leading the inquiry into last month's train crash in Southall, west London, in which seven people died, has resigned over a possible conflict of interest, the Health and Safety Executive announced last night.

The HSE said it was possible that Dr Tony Barrell's position as a non- executive director of BAA plc, which is jointly constructing the Heathrow Express along the same stretch of line in west London, could be thought to compromise his appointment to head the inquiry.