Paddington group accepts apologies for e-mail 'trawl'

Pam Warren and the Paddington rail crash survivors said last night they accepted the Government's apologies for the government e-mail seeking information on the group's political views.

Speaking after a "constructive" meeting with the new Transport Secretary, Alistair Darling, Mrs Warren declared the issue dead, but promised to continue pressing the Government for improvements in rail safety.

She said Mr Darling had made a personal apology for the e-mails, which were sent by the former special adviser Dan Corry. "As far as I am concerned the damage is done whatever those e-mails may or may not contain. Having said that we have accepted the apology, we really need to move on to rail safety issues. As to what goes on within the political system we are just lay people, members of the general public, so we can't really comment," Mrs Warren said.

She said it was too soon to judge Mr Darling's prospects for improving the rail system, insisting that trust in the new secretary of state could only be built over a period of time.

The Transport Department refused to discussed the content of the meeting.

Mrs Warren told Sky News: "We are going to have future meetings and a constructive dialogue, that has been agreed. Really we have to wait and see what happens.

"I think trust comes from a longer term view, rather than having one meeting and saying we can trust this man. The general impression is that they are going to move on with rail safety and we feel it is our job to report to the public what is and what is not happening, and we have had assurances which will be taken forward."

Mr Darling invited the group to the meeting after taking his new job last month. He wanted to clear the air after the furore following the revelation of e-mails from Mr Corry, who worked for Stephen Byers, asking for information about the political affiliations of leading members of the group.

Simon Benham, the group's new chairman, added: "We feel it is over. We have accepted the apology that has come through. We are happy it is over, we want to concentrate on rail safety. That's what we are about; improving rail safety and implementing Lord Cullen's plans as soon as possible."

He said: "We had a very constructive meeting, we came out of it feeling very positive. We must see what time brings along. Hopefully it will be good news."