29/10/2012
Chris Jackson reports on the extraordinary friendship between the family of a woman who died in the Grayrigg rail crash and the rail worker at the centre of the disaster.
When David Lewis heard the news of the Grayrigg train disaster in which eighty-six people were injured and one woman was killed, he knew instantly what had happened-he'd forgotten to check the points. Overworked, he had simply overlooked the vital task. He'd warned his bosses there was too much to do. It's a burden he has carried ever since. The stress has cost him his marriage. But now an extraordinary friendship has developed between David and the family of Margaret Masson who died in the crash. Inside Out followed David on an emotional journey to be reunited with the family who now say they are proud to know him.
Also, on the eve of decision day for a controversial incinerator project in North Yorkshire, Inside Out looks at the arguments - and asks whether the £1.4 billion scheme will provide value for money. And Kirsten O'Brien takes to the sea off the Northumberland coast to find out if we should do more to protect visiting dolphins.
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Grayrigg train reunion
Duration: 02:10
Grayrigg train disaster
The son of a pensioner killed in a rail crash has met the engineer who forgot to inspect a faulty set of points and told him: "I forgive your mistake."
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George Masson's 85-year-old mother Margaret died in the Grayrigg train crash on the West Coast mainline in February 2007.
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An inquest heard the derailment of the Glasgow-bound Virgin Pendolino train was caused by poorly maintained points which should have been inspected by Network Rail engineer Dave Lewis.
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More than five years after the crash, Mr Lewis has travelled to Glasgow for an emotional meeting with Mr Masson and his family.
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In the Inside Out film, Mr Lewis travels to the meeting by train along the West Coast main line past the scene of the Grayrigg derailment in Cumbria for the first time in five years.
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Mr Lewis's marriage broke up after the crash and he lost his house and his job.
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But he was not prosecuted after he was able to prove that he had repeatedly warned his bosses about staff shortages, budget cuts and their impact on safety in the year before the derailment.
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Mr Masson, who admits that he wanted to 'rip his head off' before hearing Mr Lewis's account of the intolerable pressures he faced at work, decided instead to offer his forgiveness.
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As they are filmed meeting for a drink at a bar in Glasgow, Mr Masson said: "You made a mistake, I forgive you for that.Ìý The other person should have listened.
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"You showed sincerity and remorse, you've got to live with that, same as I have to live with it."
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on the Â鶹Éç News website.
An unlikely friendship made out of Grayrigg rail tragedy
When a Virgin train travelling at 95mph derailed near Grayrigg in Cumbria five years ago dozens of passengers were injured and one woman was killed.
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Five years on an unlikely friendship has developed between the son of the woman killed, George Masson, and the engineer who was accused of failing to check the tracks properly, David Lewis.
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Speaking to the Â鶹Éç, George said of David, "He was the only one who showed any sincerity, emotions, remorse."
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from the Â鶹Éç News website.
Blog: Remarkable reconciliation in Grayrigg crash aftermath
On today's Inside Out you'll see the incredible act of forgiveness borne out of the Grayrigg train crash in Cumbria.
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to the story on Chris Jackson's correspondent pages.
Do Northumberland's dolphins need more protection?
Kirsten O'Brien joins naturalist Martin Kitching on a survey of dolphins in the North Sea.
EnvironmentalistsÌýare urging the government to create protective zones along the Northumberland coastÌýbut there are alsoÌýthose who argue against it.
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Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Chris Jackson |
| Reporter | Kirsten O'Brien |
Broadcast
- Mon 29 Oct 2012 19:30Â鶹Éç One North East & Cumbria