Audio and video reports

A train ploughs off the tracks at Potters Bar station in southern England, killing seven people and injuring many more both on board and on the platform.

BBC News Online provides full coverage of the latest in a series of accidents on the UK's railways.

Click below for coverage of:

The investigation
The crash and aftermath
Industry and political reaction
Eyewitness accounts
Previous train crashes

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The investigation

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Police investigate mystery rail workers
14 June

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A team of investigators on the line near Potters Bar after the crash

British Transport Police have issued an appeal for information about five "mystery" railway workers seen on the track hours before the Potters Bar train crash. Five people wearing orange rail worker jackets were filmed on CCTV hours before the crash. Maintenance contractor, Jarvis says that points may have been sabotaged.

The BBC's Simon Montague reports

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Potters Bar station re-opens
20 May

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Potters Bar train station reopens 10 days after the crash

Potters Bar station opened to Monday morning commuters, 10 days after the accident. The investigation is focusing on the bolts which became dislodged from the points outside the station and claims from the maintenance contractor, Jarvis of possible sabotage.

The BBC's Samantha Simmonds reports

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Points faulty nine days before crash
14 May

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A damaged carriage is lifted from the tracks outside Potters Bar station.

Maintenance workers found nuts had come loose from the points outside Potters Bar station nine days before the crash. The engineering team reported that the nuts had been put back in place but the Health and Safety Executive team investigating the crash say the discovery may be very important.

The BBC's Gavin Hewitt reports

HSE preliminary report into crash

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Investigators focus on points failure
12 May

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Investigators inspect the points at Potters Bar

Rail investigators are concentrating on a set of points where the crash occurred. The investigation has found that the bolts holding the points in place were not properly fastened as one or more nuts had become dislodged. It is believed the rear carriage came off the rails as the train passed over the points.

The BBC's Duncan Kennedy reports

Railtrack chief executive John Armitt

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The crash

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The train's last carriage is wedged under the station's roof.

The 1245BST WAGN service carrying 151 passengers from Kings Cross, London, to Kings Lynn derails at Potters Bar, little more than ten minutes into its journey. Three of the train's four carriages come off the tracks.

The BBC's Gavin Hewitt reports

The BBC's John Andrew reports on previous rail disasters

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Eyewitness accounts

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The injured were taken to Barnet general hospital

Following the crash, many people who live and work in Potters Bar rush to the station in order to help in the rescue operation. They report seeing people lying under the train.

Amadin Ryan: "I saw people catapulted out of the train"

Estate agent Andrew Ansell: "Everyone thought the train was literally coming through the back of the office"

Sam Irving: "We jumped down onto the line and went under the train"

Waitress Shirley Sally: "There were a lot of local people helping out doing what they could"

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Industry and political reaction

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Investigators will have to painstakingly check the train and the surrounding area

Senior politicians send their condolences to those affected by the crash, as the rail industry's experts start their investigation into what caused the accident. Investigators from the Health and Safety Executive, as well as officials from Railtrack and the train company are involved.

Transport Secretary Stephen Byers

The BBC's Rory Cellan-Jones reports

The UK Railway Inspectorate's Dr Alan Sefton

Rail Passengers Council's Stewart Francis

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Special reports on previous UK rail crashes

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Selby, North Yorkshire: February 2001

Hatfield, Hertfordshire: October 2000

Ladbroke Grove, London: October 1999