Train drivers are being urged to carry out 'go-slows' through York Station in the wake of the Paddington disaster.

A train passes signal Y304 on the approach to York Station. The signal appeared on a list of British safety flashpoints

A week after the tragedy, which claimed at least 30 lives, the "slow-down" message has been sent to drivers who encounter danger signals by their union, Aslef.

Concern has been expressed about signals around the country where trains have frequently passed at danger, including one at York.

On the Health & Safety Executive's list of 22 danger spots, signal Y304 on the main line north of York Station was listed as having been passed eight times while at red between 1990 and 1998.

Despite the inevitable delays go-slows will cause, John Richards, spokesman for Aslef, said the safety of passengers must come first.

He said: "Obviously the signal in York will be one of those we are looking at for a go-slow. We are doing this on behalf of the public to restore confidence in the railway. It's better for people to arrive a little bit late and safe rather than taking risks." But GNER, the high speed service running through, and based in, York, has said it's "business as usual". Spokesman, Alan Hyde, said: "We have a requirement to get our passengers where they want to be on time."

Meanwhile a York Railtrack chief has hit back at criticism of the safety role of the company, which has been mounting since the Paddington disaster.

Nicholas Pollard, zone director of Railtrack London North Eastern, also revealed details of a "serious incident" that happened last October involving York's Y304 signal.

But Mr Pollard said: "The record of the privatised industry in terms of reduction of signals passed at danger has been dramatic - since 1994 it's fallen by a third."

And he said a "serious incident" at the signal last October, the last one there to date, involved the driver of a freight train mistaking a green light on another line for his signal, which was actually at red.

But Mr Pollard said the driver realised his mistake and managed to stop about 130 yards short of any point where a collision could occur.

He said there was nothing technically wrong with the York signal, adding: "There is an issue here of making sure that drivers are always on their mettle at this signal, and briefing does that."

But he added the whole point of the signalling system was to minimise risks. Railtrack had been pressing for the introduction of the Train Protection Warning System (TPWS). He believed it would fund the introduction of the Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, which stops trains going through red lights, if the Government required it.

The burnt-out remains of the Greater Western Trains' carriage H - where most commuters perished - were finally being removed from the crash site today.

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