HUNDREDS of people are expected to attend a service in North Yorkshire commemorating the tenth anniversary of one of the country’s worst rail disasters.

The service, which is open to the public, will be held at 1.30pm today at St Paul’s Church in Hensall, near Selby, to mark the 2001 Great Heck accident.

Ten people were killed and dozens more were injured on February 28, 2001, when a GNER train collided head-on with a freight train after being derailed by a Land Rover which had crashed down an embankment on to the track.

The Land Rover was driven by Gary Hart, who was unable to move his vehicle off the tracks and was calling the emergency services when the crash happened.

The Rev Stephen Sorby, chaplain with the National Rail Chaplaincy Service, will lead the service, which will also include an address from the Rt Rev Cyril Ashton, Bishop of Doncaster.

Mr Sorby said: “Since 2008 I have been made very aware of the devastation caused to so many people that day and the support the staff have needed since then.

“Even ten years on it’s still as raw in many ways as it was ten years ago. But I think it could help people move on. The service that I have put together is really simple and dignified, reflecting on the past, but looking to the future.”

Three members of the GNER crew, six passengers and the driver of the freight train were killed in the accident.

Mr Sorby said the day of commemoration would help people remember those who were killed in the accident, and those affected by it.

He said: “The day of services won’t bring closure because nothing ever will, but it might help some people to move on and bring them hope.

“Some of the staff (involved in the accident) have had some time working in office-based jobs and have now gone back on board so it’s actually taking time, but those people have worked through what has happened.


Efforts to rebuild lives

THE family of the freight train driver who was killed in the accident have spoken of their sadness on the anniversary.

In a statement released by the widow of driver Stephen Dunn, his widow, Mary, and their sons, Andrew and James, said: “Today is a particularly hard time for us all. We have all made an effort to rebuild our lives since Steve/our daddy, was killed.

“Our sons, Andrew and James, are working full-time and are happy. We would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank everyone who has helped us through the past decade.

“This list includes British Transport Police and all county forces involved in any way, the railway family, particularly GNER, Freightliner and Network Rail. There are also many individuals who have supported and helped us in many various ways – they know who they are.”

Mr Sorby said: “There has been some triumph over adversity, with Stephen Dunn’s son becoming a train driver with London Transport himself. It’s very much about the now and the future and the hope that people can move on as best they can without forgetting, because holding on to the past can hurt.

Sue Nelson, regular columnist with The Press, worked for Railtrack at the time of the accident, and was one of the first on the scene. She said: “I was standing on the bridge on the phone to my boss, and he asked me to describe what I could see.

“I realised all the carriages were off the rails. It was shocking, it just took my breath away, and we just knew it was so, so bad.”

For ten days after the crash, Railtrack worked with British Transport Police, accident investigators and residents to investigate the incident and clear the area.

In the years following the crash, Sue worked with the families of those affected by the accident during campaigns for a memorial and throughout the court case and inquests.

Ten years on, Sue said some positives had come out of the tragedy: “I think there have to have been positives come out of this negative. Those people who lost someone will never get over it, but will learn to live with it.