 The train was derailed by a broken track in October |
New technology which could prevent a repeat of tragedies such as the Hatfield rail crash is being developed by researchers in Warwick. The system can be attached to trains travelling at high speeds to detect and measure cracks in rail tracks.
Four passengers died when a GNER Kings Cross to Leeds express was derailed by a broken track in 2000.
A spokesman said it could transform every train in the UK into a 24-hour network of rail crack detectors.
Zero disruption
The technology uses ultrasonic techniques which are currently used to detect cracks but only work when trains are travelling at much slower speeds such as 20 to 30mph.
The new system is being developed by Dr Steve Dixon, Dr Rachel Edwards and John Reed from the University of Warwick's Department of Physics.
The researchers can determine the exact location of a crack by observing the loss of a signal as it is blocked by the flaw in the track.
It could also be used to detect which sections of the track are more likely to crack.
Dr Dixon said: "Given the will and funding this technology could transform every train in the country into an army of highly sophisticated rail monitors with zero disruption to the rail network."
Four passengers died and 30 were injured in the Hatfield crash in October 2000.
A preliminary Health and Safety Executive report found that the broken rail was the "substantial" if not the only, cause.
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