THE fatal accident inquiry into the deaths of four people in the
Newton rail crash near Glasgow last July has been postponed for two
months, apparently because counsel representing British Rail were not
available.
The inquiry into the deaths of two train drivers and two passengers
was to have started on November 16 but was yesterday postponed until
January 18, after Sher
iff Andrew Lothian accepted a petition from BR at Glasgow Sheriff
Court.
A BR spokesman said later: ''The FAI has been postponed in order that
the British Rail board can be adequately represented.''
Rail union Aslef said yesterday that it had not opposed BR's petition.
Mr William Wilkie, Scottish secretary of the union, added: ''It is my
understanding that British Rail weren't ready to proceed and I don't
think it would have been useful opposing the application for deferral.''
Two passengers and the drivers of both trains -- one travelling from
Newton to Glasgow Central, the other from Balloch to Motherwell -- were
killed in the collision on July 21 last year.
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