Eight-year wait for inquest into Potters Bar rail disaster

Published: 23 April 2010
by PETER GRUNER

EIGHT years after the Potters Bar rail disaster, in which Islington author Nina Bawden’s husband Austen died along with six others, an inquest is finally to be held.

Ms Bawden campaigned vociferously for a public inquiry into the crash after the rail maintenance company initially refused to accept responsibility. This week, she said she was relieved that an inquest would get under way in early June.

In her book, Dear Austen, published in 2005 as a tribute to her late husband, a former head of the BBC World Service, she attacks the “lack of honour and integrity” among railway executives dealing with the aftermath of the crash.

The Hertfordshire coroner confirmed this week that the inquest will take place at the Spirella Ballroom in Letchworth. It is expected to last for several weeks.

Seven people died and 76 others were injured when a train bound for King’s Lynn derailed at high speed in Potters Bar on May 10, 2002.

Network Rail and maintenance firm Jarvis, which announced in March that it would go into administration, accepted liability for compensation claims, but initially denied main­tenance failings had led to the crash, stating instead that sabotage was to blame.

But a Health and Safety Executive report in 2003 concluded that poor maintenance of a set of points had contributed to the crash. No criminal charges were brought against any rail staff.

An inquest had been due to be held in 2005, but was postponed. It was not until last year that Lord Adonis announced the inquest would go ahead, but ruled out a public inquiry. 

Ms Bawden, 85, who lives in Angel, suffered broken ribs, legs, arms and collarbone in the crash. She said that the inquest was long overdue. 

“It is a disgrace that we have waited eight years,” said Ms Bawden.

She will not be able to attend personally as she has been ill following a fall at home, but will be represented by solicitor Louise Christian and members of her family.

Ms Bawden added: “I hope we will learn something about what happened. But we really need a public inquiry and they won’t give us one.

“Eight years is an awfully long time to wait. I wonder if everyone is going to remember everything or even want to remember what happened.”

On the day of the accident Ms Bawden and Austen were on their way to Cambridge for a birthday party. They bought first-class tickets and it was their coach which was worst affected when the train was thrown off the line.

• Ms Bawden’s book Birds on the Tree (Virago) is on a shortlist of six novels for The Lost Man Booker Prize – a one-off award to honour books published in 1970 that were not eligible for consideration for the then fledgling Man Booker prize. Readers have until April 23 to vote. Visit www.themanbookerprize.com