Railtrack faces crash prosecution

Railtrack is likely to face prosecution from the Health and Safety Executive over a freight train accident in which several people working under railway arches narrowly escaped death.

Inspectors at the HSE are next week expected to announce details of the prosecution over a crash at Bexley in Kent in February last year.

A train operated by English Welsh Scottish, a rail freight company, was derailed, sending wagons smashing into arches under a viaduct and wrecking workshops. Despite tons of rubble descending on them, only four workshop employees were injured and all made full recoveries.

Jim Messenger, 71, whose son John, 34, suffered head injuries in the accident was told of the outcome of the investigation yesterday. He said: "I have been seeking compensation for this accident. It was amazing no one was killed."

A summons is expected to be served next week. It is not known if EWS or any companies whose goods were being carried on the wagons face prosecution.

- Randeep Ramesh, Transport Correspndent