Senior rail managers have been rebuked over the "catalogue of errors" which led up to the Southall disaster.

The final day of the inquiry was told it was wrong to focus entirely on the failings of train driver Larry Harrison because there were "systemic failings" within Great Western Trains.

Seven people died and 150 were injured on September 19, 1997, when a high speed train operated by Great Western went through a red signal in Southall, west London, before colliding with an empty freight train.

The inquiry heard that Mr Harrison, the driver of the ill-fated Swansea to Paddington train, had been seen with his feet on the train's dashboard.

At an Old Bailey hearing, which preceded the inquiry, Great Western were fined �1.5m but manslaughter charges against Mr Harrison were dropped.

'Systemic failings'

But counsel for the inquiry, Ian Burnett QC, said it was wrong to focus entirely on Mr Harrison.

He said: "Although as we have submitted in writing, Mr Harrison bears a heavy responsibility for the Southall accident, it would be wrong to concentrate on the failings of the driver when there is compelling evidence of serious systemic failings within Great Western."

Mr Burnett said the Automatic Warning System (AWS) equipment in the train was not working and the Automatic Train Protection system (ATP) was not in use.

He said there was "no doubt" if AWS had been in operation in the train, the accident would not have happened.

Procedure 'too slow'

Mr Burnett said the fault in the AWS had been noted the night before the crash but no action had been taken.

"We cannot pass from the question of AWS without noting and regretting that even after more than two years, the railway industry has still not resolved the best way to deal with AWS failure in the rules and group standards.

"The whole process for doing so is simply too slow," he said.

Mr Burnett said the main line between Bristol and Paddington had been fitted with ATP but at the time of the accident it had not been turned on.

He said the reason for the non-use of ATP was a lack of training for Mr Harrison and another driver James Tunnock, who had taken the train from London to Swansea.

Mr Burnett said there were "significant management failings" at Great Western.

'Taking credit...and responsibility'

He said: "The detailed investigation of GWT which the Southall accident has spawned reveals an organisation which was seriously under-performing to the detriment of the safety of its customers.

"Those with overall responsibility for the activities for an organisation are quick to take credit when things go well.

"In this instance we believe that they should be ready to take responsibility for the catalogue of errors which show that things went badly wrong."

Jonathan Caplan, QC for GWT, said the company had accepted its fault and "its proper share" for all of the responsibility of the disaster.

GWT accepted that it was at fault for not "turning" the train at Swansea and for not undertaking a risk assessment for allowing trains to continue with the AWS system switched off, he said.

But he added that at the time, the rail industry in general had failed to appreciate the importance of the early warning system and GWT was no exception.

Inquiry chairman Prof John Uff will report back to the Health and Safety Executive by the end of January and his report will be published later next year.