Crash inquiry focuses on points

Prince Charles talks to Jennifer Cox, from Australia, at Barnet General Hospital

POTTERS BAR, England -- Two detached rail nuts indicate that failed points are initially to blame for the Potters Bar train accident in which seven people died, officials have said.

John Armitt, Chief Executive of Railtrack, which has responsibility for the track, said as the train passed over the points, they moved, causing the train to derail with the fourth carriage ploughing into the north London station platforms.

He said that track nuts on supports had become detached, and that the focus of the investigation would now be to find out why they had become loose.

That particular part of the track had been given a visual check as recently as Thursday -- the day before the accident -- he told a press conference on Saturday.

Railtrack is carrying out checks on similar points across the network, but no reports of further defects have been made, and it said the checks could be carried out without speed restrictions being imposed.

HM Rail Inspectors and the Health and Safety Executive, which is carrying out the investigation into the cause of the crash, said it will be "examining the points in some detail," but would need to carry out further tests before it gives a firm indication -- not expected until next week.

MORE STORIES • UK fatal rail crash inquiry begins  • Seven dead in UK rail crash  • On the scene: 'Complete devastation'  • Witnesses describe crash horror  • More misery on Britain's rails  • Rail expert: Points may have moved  • Timeline: History of tragedy    EXTRA INFORMATION Photo gallery: Scenes from the crash    EMERGENCY CONTACT 00 44 (0)845 944 1551

The King's Cross to King's Lynn train had passed over the set of points at 100 mph shortly before it hit a bridge, raining debris on to cars on the road below and causing the final carriage to hit the platform. (More on points theory)

Six people are still in a critical condition, including two women who are in intensive care, and a further 90 are injured.

The two victims in the most serious condition, a man and a woman both in their late teens, were taken to London's Royal Free Hospital where they were being cared for by doctors specialising in head injuries.

Among the victims was Austen Kark, the former head of the British Broadcasting Corporation's World Service, who was aged 75.

His wife Nina, who is in hospital with a broken collarbone and ankle, is the award-winning novelist who wrote under the name Nina Bawden. Her most famous book 'Carrie's War,' published 1975, was a children's novel about World War II and won the Phoenix Award 20 years later.

A series of services will be held in churches in Potters Bar on Sunday to pray for the injured and bereaved.

A pile of flowers has been growing outside the entrance to Potters Bar train station from well wishers and mourners.

Prince Charles visited passengers recovering at Barnet General Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital, north London, on Saturday and thanked medical staff for their work.

"When I found out my heart stood still," he said after leaving Barnet General.

One of the train's carriages straddles the station's tracks

"I just want to give my deepest sympathy to all who lost their loved ones."

He added: "I can never get over how wonderful the people are in these hospitals. They really do the most incredible job."

National newspapers said on Saturday a public inquiry was essential if Britons' battered confidence in the rail system was to be restored.

GNER and West Anglia Great Northern said delays of up to 30 minutes were being incurred, with some services being cancelled, in the aftermath of the tragedy.

The accident happened a few miles from Hatfield, where four people died when an express came off the tracks in 2000. (Full story)

Heavy lifting gear was being moved into place ready for when engineers give the go-ahead for the train to be moved.

Investigators are also set to examine the train's two "black box" recorders. The crash site remains sealed off by police officers.

The Queen sent a message to the Department of Transport expressing her shock and sadness at what had happened.

Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman said: "His (Mr Blair's) thoughts are with the relatives and friends of the dead and injured at this difficult time."

The train came to rest jammed on the Potters Bar platform

Transport Secretary Stephen Byers said he had asked investigators from the Health and Safety Executive to report their preliminary findings about the cause of the accident to him "as soon as possible".

He visited the site on Saturday. Responding to calls by victims of previous rail crashes for a public inquiry he said: "Let's wait to see the outcome of the investigation into this incident.

"If it reveals some fundamental weakness in the railway system we will need to give proper consideration to an inquiry.

"But I think we may be dealing with an isolated incident in this case.

"There is lots of speculation and it is very important that we are very disciplined. It is very important that the people carrying out the investigation make their findings public because that is part of the process of reassuring rail passengers."

The Potters Bar crash is the latest blow to an industry which has lurched from crisis to crisis over recent years. (Details)