MP welcomes news that Network Rail have indicated that they will plead guilty over Grayrigg

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has welcomed news that the Network Rail have pleaded guilty to breaching Health & Safety at Work Act over the Cumbrian rail crash at Grayrigg in which one passenger died.

Margaret Masson, 84, fromGlasgow, died after the Virgin train derailed on the West Coast Main Line in February 2007. In November last year, an inquest in Kendal found poorly maintained points were to blame for causing her death. The train went over a "degraded" set of points at 92mph and careered down an embankment, leaving 88 people injured.

Network Rail are facing unlimited fine when they are sentenced atLancaster Crown Courton April 2.

Commenting this afternoon, Tim said: "I welcome the news that Network Rail have indicated that they will be pleading guilty. For too long people have not been held accountable for their actions and have hidden behind Network Rail as a faceless company. The fact that 700 points-related incidents were identified around the UK following the Grayrigg crash proves that a full public inquiry is still much needed.

"I hope that today's news is another step closer to offering the family of Margaret Masson the closure they deserve. We must never forget the tragedy of Grayrigg but I hope that we can hold the company to account."