Six killed as train is derailed

SIX people were killed and nine are seriously injured after a train run by National Express came off the rails as it passed through Potters Bar station north of London this afternoon. One of the carriages flipped on its side and ended up on opposing platforms, straddling the track.

The casualties also included 23 less seriously hurt and 76 'walking wounded'.

It is believed the rear carriage broke free from the other three, which came to a halt 400 yards up the line. The derailed carriage crashed into a bridge, raining debris down onto traffic passing through the town centre below.

The 12.45 King's Cross to King's Lynn service was run by National Express's West Anglia Great Northern franchise. Early unconfirmed reports said road vehicles were involved.

The train was not due to stop at Potters Bar and was travelling at speed when the crash happened, said an eyewitness.

'The train must have derailed before the station and hit one of the platforms head-on, demolishing it,' he said. 'It then flipped over and ended up across the platforms and wedged under a pedestrian bridge.

'Its wheels were off and there were people hanging out the window and all you could hear was screaming.'

A member of staff at a nearby Sainsbury's supermarket said: 'Our first-aiders were first on the scene. Someone came rushing in and told us what had happened and anyone who knew what to do went rushing over. You can see the train from the store and we've got wounded people in the store now.'

The derailment was close to Hatfield where a GNER express came off the tracks in October 2000 in an accident which claimed four lives.

National Express shares fell 40 1/2p to 644 1/2p following the news. The group is the country's largest rail operator, operating nine franchises. WAGN runs into King's Cross, Liverpool Street and Moorgate. Around London National Express also operates the Gatwick Express, C2C and Silverlink service, and has the Central Trains and ScotRail franchises.

The WAGN routes were among the hardest hit by the temporary speed restrictions imposed following the Hatfield tragedy. Railtrack embarked on a rushed programme of safety upgrades after investigators discovered badly-maintained track was to blame for the Hatfield crash.

Emergency number for information 0845 944 1551.