Network Rail’s apology slammed
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NETWORK Rail has neglected level crossing safety since it took over the structure 12 years ago, according to a man whose parents were killed in a rail collision at Halkirk.
Donald Mackay said last week’s apology was "forced" after the government criticised how the quango dealt with bereaved families.
The Transport Select Committee blasted the organisation for the way it has handled tragedies, saying it had showed a "callous disrespect" to those who had lost relatives in level crossing incidents.
In 2009, Angus Mackay, along with his wife Margaret and his brother Donnie from Latheron, died when their car was struck by a train at the Bridge Street level crossing in Halkirk. Donald Mackay claimed his parents died due to Network Rail’s neglect of crossing safety since it took over the system in 2002.
He felt the apology resulted from the high-profile attention the select committee’s findings attracted from the media.
"It didn’t sound like a personal apology and it was only made because of the parliamentary involvement," he said.
"Network Rail has been ordered to say sorry as a result of the publication of the select committee report. They didn’t want to acknowledge any wrongdoing on their own part.
"The word the government was looking for was not insensitive, but indifference as Network Rail sees the issue of level crossing as an annoyance and will not be held to account about the issue.
"Network Rail has failed to address the issue of level safety crossing since it took over the network."
In 2002, Sarah Jappy from Halkirk was also involved in a collision with a train when her car was hit at the same crossing.
She and her unborn child survived, although she spent months in a
coma.
Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne said it has invested £130 million in level crossing safety improvements in the last four years.
But he admitted much more needed to be done to improve safety and it was looking to invest in new technology.
"I wish to extend a full and unreserved apology on behalf of Network Rail to all those whose lives have been touched by a failing, however large or small, made by this company in managing public safety at level crossings and in failing to deal sensitively with the families affected," he said.
"Today Network Rail is a very different company to the one which existed at the time of these tragic accidents.
"As a result of this transformation, level crossings in Great Britain are amongst the safest in Europe, but there is still much that we can, and will, do and the committee’s recommendations will help us in that endeavour."
In October, safety barriers were installed at the railway level crossing at Halkirk as part of Network Rail’s £4 million project to introduce gates at 20 sites across the Highlands.
Safety barriers have also been installed at the crossings at Hoy and Watten.
