Concrete barriers are to be installed at the point where a Land Rover slipped off the M62, sparking the Selby rail disaster.

The Evening Press has learned that the Highways Agency will install the wire-meshed blocks to allay rail passengers' fears following the tragic accident, which left ten people dead when a derailed passenger train struck a freight train a week last Wednesday.

The adequacy of the crash barriers protecting the railway from the M62 has been under intense scrutiny since the Land Rover slid down an embankment into the path of the 5.59am GNER service from York to London.

"As an immediate measure, the Highways Agency intends to install Gabion walls (wire mesh concrete blocks) inside and parallel to the motorway/railway junction on both the north-west and south-east corners," said a Highways Agency spokesman.

"This is intended to allay public concerns about the resumption of passenger train services."

He refused to say whether the concrete walls would have prevented last week's collision or whether the Agency intended to introduce them at other road/rail junctions.

Jonathan Metcalfe, customer operations director for GNER, said: "Given the tragic consequences following a Land Rover and trailer landing on the railway line, adequacy of barriers, suitability and length of barriers at points where roads cross over rail lines should be of particular concern. A report commissioned by the Highways Agency, and published earlier this week, expressed the opinion that 'any engagement between Land Rover and safety fence would have been likely to prevent the vehicle reaching the railway line.'"

Robin Gisby, director of Railtrack's London North Eastern Zone, said: "Railtrack is committed to working closely with the safety and transport authorities to maintain and improve the safety of the rail network."

* Railtrack has confirmed the line will be closed for another six days while repair work continues. And a 50mph speed limit will be imposed when the trains do start rolling again, expected to be at the end of next week.

* Inquests into the deaths of the ten victims of the rail crash were due to be opened today. Coroner David Hinchliff was expected to open and adjourn the inquests at Harrogate Magistrates' Court. The first funerals of the victims are to be held next week.

Updated: 15:36 Friday, March 09, 2001