UK News 19-10-2000 Railtrack Boss Resignation Rejected who: Railtrack what: Reject resignation of chief executive following Hatfield crash when: Last night snippet: Railtrack has announced that it has refused to accept the resignation of its chief executive, Gerald Corbett, following the Hatfield rail crash on Tuesday in which four people lost their lives. "I, personally, am distraught that another tragedy has occured on our railways. The families of the bereaved are foremost in my mind," said Mr Corbett yesterday. "As a matter or principle, as chief executive of Railtrack, I have, of course, tendered my resignation to the board." "His decision to quit sparked an outburst of support from train operators, passengers, analysts, and even victims of last year`s crash in Ladbroke Grove," says Juliette Jowit The Financial Times. "We`re beginning to have a working relationship with Mr Corbett and Railtrack and from our viewpoint there`s no point in bringing in a new chief executive," said Pam Warren of the Paddington Survivors` Group yesterday. "We have had, and still have our differences with Railtrack - but we believe Mr Corbett has a job ahead of him." Railtrack admitted that they were aware of the potential danger of broken track in the Hatfield stretch as long ago as January. Work had been in progress to replace the hardened steel track, which was only five years old, and was due to be completed next month, reports The Independent. "By the time the London-Leeds express was derailed on Tuesday," says The Telegraph, "a new section of rail intended to replace the damaged part had been lying between the tracks for five months waiting to be fitted." [... more]

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