| Cullen report expected to criticise railway safety |
Lord Cullen is expected to deliver a damning report on railway safety since privatisation.
His wide-ranging inquiry was triggered by the 1999 Paddington disaster in which 31 people died.
The bereaved and injured are hoping for recommendations which put "safety at the heart of future plans" of the fragmented network, said their lawyer Louise Christian.
She believes the report will be "very critical", but added: "Public inquiries can only make recommendations. It is up to the Government to implement them.
"Recommendations are often not followed through on cost grounds and that is why the Government's responsibility in this is so important."
In addition to those killed at Paddington, seven people were killed in the 1997 Southall crash and four died at Hatfield last October.
Among the sweeping changes being demanded by the bereaved and passenger safety campaigners is a independent rail investigation board.
This is needed because the "over-arching role of being responsible for Britain's railways should be taken away from Railtrack", said Ms Christian.
The body could be formed along the lines of a tough independent regulatory authority concentrating on railway safety. There should also be a separate organisation with special responsibility for investigating crashes.
In addition, the railway inspectorate should be separated from the Health and Safety Executive in order to strengthen it, campaigners argue.
Story filed: 05:18 Thursday 20th September 2001
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