by Mark Campbell

Last updated at 14:31, Tuesday, 10 April 2012

I knew Margaret Masson, the 84-year-old woman who died in the train crash at Grayrigg five years ago. I know her family, through my sister-in-law, they are very close to my heart.

Margaret - we knew her as Peggy - was my sister-in-law’s grandmother.

I remember a car load of us, including young children and a dog, travelling through the snow to see her at home in Glasgow. She welcomed us all, strangers or not, with open arms, fed us and wished us a safe journey home with that lovely sweet smile she wore.

That tragic night she was travelling back home with her daughter and son-in-law, Margaret and Richard, they had been visiting my brother’s family.

As the train passed near Grayrigg in Cumbria, a degraded set of points caused an horrific high-speed crash which took Peggy’s life.

My sister-in-law’s parents were taken to hospital with serious injuries. I remember how brave they were when I visited them.

Sadly, Richard has since died and now Margaret lives with the grief of having lost both of them, with physical and mental scars, and a deep sense of bitterness after Network Rail was fined £4million for failing to maintain the track to a safe standard.

Solicitor Soyab Patel, speaking on behalf of the family, pointed out: “The fine of £4m, together with costs, will ultimately be borne by the taxpayer. Mrs Langley is a taxpayer. Her mother died in the crash. She and her husband suffered serious injuries. She finds it offensive she is contributing to the fine.”

I can only sympathise with her views and wish her happier times in the future.

No price can be put on the life of Peggy. No individual has had to take any blame for her death. In can only be hoped that the £4million penalty will focus all efforts on making sure we have a completely safe railway in the future.

Peggy’s death can’t have been for nothing.

First published at 11:23, Tuesday, 10 April 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk