Today (May 10) marks 20 years since seven people died in the tragic Potters Bar rail crash.
The West Anglia Great Northern passenger train, travelling 97mph from Kings Cross to Kings Lynn, derailed at a faulty set of points at Potters Bar on May 10, 2002.
Six of the victims were passengers, who were: Austen Kark, 75; Emma Knights, 29; Chia-hsin Lin, 29; Prince Alexander Ogunwusi, 42; Jonael Schickler, 25, and Chia-Ching Wu, 30.
Agnes Quinlivan, 80, was killed by falling debris as she walked near the station.
To pay respects to the seven deaths, a service was held at Our Lady and St Vincent Church, as well as a private memorial for family members at the station.
Following the service, many councillors and representatives of emergency services shared their thoughts twenty years on.
Read the original report at the time: Seven die in Potters Bar rail crash
Today, we laid a wreath of remembrance to mark the 20th anniversary of the Potters Bar rail crash.
— London King's Cross (@NetworkRailKGX) May 10, 2022
Sarah Reid, route director, represented Network Rail alongside @GNRailUK & @HertsmereBC. pic.twitter.com/WXWjZzOkvE
Councillor John Graham, the deputy mayor of Hertsmere, said: "The incident left a profound and indelible mark on our community. We will never forget those who lost their lives or those left behind to grieve and forced to rebuild their worlds after it.
“Our thanks go to the emergency services, whose indefatigable efforts on the day helped ensure more lives were not lost.
“This incident had serious repercussions for local people, the rail industry, and other national institutions, but it also demonstrated the strength of the community spirit, which characterises Potters Bar and the whole of our borough. A spirit which lives on to this day.”
Hertfordshire remembers the 20th anniversary of the Potters Bar railway disaster. pic.twitter.com/8RZqKlH7Yp
— Hertfordshire County Council (@hertscc) May 10, 2022
Andy Hopcraft, the deputy chief fire officer for Hertfordshire, recalled how the fire and rescue team worked “tirelessly” to evacuate the injured and help save the lives of others.
He said: “It's important that we never forget the passengers, station staff, emergency services and their loved ones, who were all profoundly affected by this terrible tragedy."
Today we remember Potters Bar, 20 years to the day the accident happened.
— RSSB (@RSSB_rail) May 10, 2022
Key lessons were learned, and our thoughts are with all those who were affected by this tragedy.
Although we can never be complacent, accidents are rare, and the railways have become safer for everyone. pic.twitter.com/svzBu8Nd4R
Meanwhile Potters Bar Labour councillor Chris Myers said: “I remember this like it was yesterday. The scenes at the station and around Darkes Lane were horrific.
“Today we remember that fateful day with a heavy heart and pay our respects to all those that we lost and extend our thoughts and love to their families.”
Today marks the twentieth anniversary of the tragic and devastating Potters Bar rail crash and comes just as Network Rail is planning to axe 2,500 rail maintenance roles.
— RMT (@RMTunion) May 10, 2022
We must learn from our history and never compromise railway safety so such a tragedy could ever occur again. pic.twitter.com/Ar2SXbWdH6
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