Railtrack: 'An appalling year'

Railtrack chairman John Robinson has apologised for the company's poor performance as he faced survivors of fatal train crashes in Ladbroke Grove, Hatfield and Selby at a stormy annual general meeting.

The Railtrack chief told a packed shareholders' meeting in York that it had been an "appalling year for Railtrack, its customers, the public, its staff and its shareholders."

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24 July 2001: Apology by Railtrack

Railtrack chairman John Robinson

Before the meeting, which opened with a minute's silence, Mr Robinson met survivors and relatives of victims of recent rail crashes, who were staging a protest outside the hall. He promised to hold further meetings with them and said they would not be left behind as the company moved forward.

 The BBC's Tom Symonds reports: 56k

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19 June 2001: 'Lamentable failures'

Inquiry chairman Lord Cullen QC

Lord Cullen's inquiry into the Paddington rail crash publishes a damning report into how the disaster happened. Railtrack, in particular, comes in for heavy criticism. No part of the rail industry escapes censure.

 Watch Lord Cullen's report in full: 56k

 The BBC's Gavin Hewitt reports: 56k

 The BBC's Robert Hall met the parents of one of the victims: 56k

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5 October 1999

Firefighters attend to the smouldering wreck of one of the trains.

The trains collided at the height of the morning rush hour. A two-carriage service run by Thames Trains from Paddington to Bedwyn, Wiltshire, collided with an incoming Great Western 125 express train from Cheltenham. Carriages came off the track and one train burst into flames. A massive column of smoke could be seen across west London.

 The BBC's Ben Brown reports: 56k

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February 2001: Tragedy at Selby

Inspectors at the scene of the Selby crash

An official interim report into the Selby rail crash published by the Health and Safety Executive says the railway industry could have done nothing to prevent the tragedy.

 Click here to watch

As the recovery process began, it emerged that as many as 13 people had died and around 70 injured - some of them seriously - in the crash. As the BBC's Kate Adie reports, the impact of the collision was devastating.

 Click here to watch

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October 2000: Hatfield crash

Scene of the Hatfield crash

An official investigation into the Hatfield rail crash has revealed a series of errors by rail bosses and engineers. An unpublished draft report by the industry's safety body, Railway Safety, is said to state Railtrack became aware of problems with tracks in the area in 1998 - at least a year before it has previously admitted.

 Click here to watch the initial findings from the Health and Safety Executive

Four people died in the crash when a high-speed GNER service bound for Leeds came off the line at around 115mph last October. The BBC's David Shukman looks back at the day's events.

 Click here to watch