Railtrack has issued a High Court writ for nearly (pounds) 11m in compensation against the driver who caused the Selby train crash, it emerged last night.

The writ was served on Gary Hart at the end of last month and looks to recover costs for damage and lost business because of his negligence, the company said.

Hart is currently serving a five-year jail term after being found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving at a trial earlier this year.

The court heard that the 37-year-old fell asleep at the wheel of his Land Rover, which later careered off the M62 in North Yorkshire, on to the east coast mainline and into the path of a GNER train.

Ten people died in the accident, in February 2001.

But a Railtrack spokesman said last night that although the writ was served in Mr Hart's name, the claim would be settled between insurance companies.

''In terms of car insurance, it's probably the biggest claim we have come across,'' he added.