Rail deaths up thanks to Potters Bar

The Potters Bar rail disaster contributed to an increased number of deaths on the railways in the year to March.

The Potters Bar rail disaster contributed to an increased number of deaths on the railways in the year to March.

The annual report of the Health and Safety Executive reveals today that as well as the seven who died in the Potters Bar derailment of May last year, 13 more were killed while using level crossings. However the number of train collisions, broken rails, track buckles, acts of vandalism and serious incidents of signals passed at danger (SPADs) all fell in the year 2002-03.

The HSE's rail safety director Alan Sefton said: "Overall, the railways' safety performance continues to improve. There was good progress in 2002-03 on several key indicators. However, the reporting period also saw the Potters Bar derailment. The overall rise in fatalities is regrettable."

The report also revealed that five children under 16 died while trespassing in the year to March, an increase of two.