£1.5M record fine for GWT

The Swansea to London train had been allowed to operate despite the fact that two vital warning systems were inoperative. The judge, Mr Justice Scott-Baker heard earlier that although the company accepted responsibility for not acting on a report that the systems weren't working it was not the major cause of the accident.

In levying the fine the judge said GWT had not provided the level of safety that the public had a right to expect. The fine was meant to be a message to all railway companies that "eternal vigilence" is necessary.

At an earlier hearing, GWT and the driver of the train were found not guilty on manslaughter charges.

A Health & Safety Executive inquiry into the accident has been delayed pending the criminal prosecutions.

Earlier stories

SOUTHALL: Great Western Trains Trial

• Court told that GWT's failure not major cause of accident (26 Jun 99)
• Safety systems on train were not working (25 Jun 99)
• Southall: Driver & GWT not guilty of Manslaughter (02 Jun 99)

On the web

• Record fine over Southall crash (BBC Online 27 Jul 99)
• Southall rail crash company is fined £1.5m (The Times 28 Jul 99)