Hatfield rail crash
The Hatfield rail crash was a railway accident on 17 October 2000, at Hatfield, Hertfordshire. It was caused by a metal fatigue-induced derailment, killing four people and injuring more than 70.
| Hatfield rail crash | |
|---|---|
An InterCity 225 passing a memorial garden for the crash victims | |
| Details | |
| Date | 17 October 2000 12:23, (UTC) |
| Location | Hatfield, Hertfordshire |
| Coordinates | 51°45′14″N 0°13′18″W |
| Country | England |
| Line | East Coast Main Line |
| Operator | Great North Eastern Railway |
| Cause | Broken rail |
| Statistics | |
| Trains | 1 |
| Passengers | 170 |
| Deaths | 4 |
| Injured | Over 70 |
| List of UK rail accidents by year | |
The accident exposed major stewardship shortcomings of the privatised national railway infrastructure company Railtrack. Reports found there was a lack of communication and some staff were not aware of maintenance procedures. Railtrack subsequently went into administration and was replaced by Network Rail. The aftermath of the accident saw widespread speed limit reductions throughout the rail network and a tightening of health and safety procedures, the repercussions of which were still felt years later. In 2005, both Railtrack and the contractor Balfour Beatty were found guilty of breaching health and safety laws.