THE tragic incident at Great Heck on the East Coast Main Line (ECML) between an up passenger train and a down coal train has received inordinate coverage by the media. Now it has become the norm that such incidents are no longer reported factually but with emphasis on speculation and media hype.

It would be more beneficial to everyone concerned if the speculation aspects were dropped from media reporting.

Both ITV and BBC now appear to subscribe to sensationalism. This was highlighted during Wednesday's reporting by endeavours to link the Ladroke Grove and Hatfield incidents with that of Great Heck, when indeed there are no similarities other than that all three are railway related incidents.

The loss of 13 lives is indeed sad. However, when was the last time the media ran a series of special reports on a similar number of deaths on our roads?

The time has come for all forms of media to present factual and equal reporting practices on rail and road incidents.

Equally disturbing are the recently- introduced accident investigation procedures involving the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Why do we need yet another body looking into incidents which in the past have been dealt with by the Railway Inspectorate?

Add to this the "scenes of crime" directives put in place by the railway police, and it is a recipe for confusion and delayed resumption of service. Mention of a two to three-week period before rail services are reintroduced between York/Selby and Doncaster is disgraceful.

A return to in-house investigation of rail incidents by rail professionals would lead to a more responsive and factual reporting procedure and a quicker restoration of services.

David Rhodes,

The Shrubberies,

Cliffe, Selby.

Updated: 12:05 Friday, March 02, 2001