Checks on 700 sets of rail points

The front of the train doubled back on the carriages

Up to 700 sets of points across the entire rail network are to be checked as a “precaution” following the Cumbria crash, Network Rail has said. Investigators earlier said the accident, in which a woman died, could have been caused by a points failure.

Experts are focusing on one set that the Virgin Trains Pendolino ran across before derailing near Kendal.

Network Rail said engineers had already started the nationwide safety checks of between 600 and 700 sets of points.

“As a precautionary measure we are beginning to check between 600 and 700 sets of points across the country,” a Network Rail spokesman said.

The checks are to be carried out on high-speed rail lines on older tracks where trains travel above 85 miles per hour.

The spokesman said Network Rail hoped to have the checks completed within the next 24 hours.