THE Selby disaster was not a rail accident. It was a road traffic accident, in which 13 rail passengers were killed.

In the interests of fairness and natural justice, we must pre-judge nothing. It is wrong to point any finger of suspicion at the driver of the Land Rover until a full and thorough investigation has taken place.

Conjecture and speculation serve no purpose.

The chances of such a tragic chain of events happening again with such dreadful consequences appear negligible.

But we must leave nothing to chance.

It does seem beyond belief that a vehicle can leave a motorway and end up on the country's busiest and fastest railway line.

While the inquiries go on, we agree with those who are demanding an investigation into the safety standards of the hundreds of road bridges which cross railway lines.

And if the slightest doubt is raised over the safety of any of them, then instant remedial action must be taken, whatever the cost.

The chain of tragic events on our railways in recent times warn us against complacency.

Justice at last?

THE Northern Echo has been at the forefront of calls to bring about justice for the miners.

It is blatantly unjust that the health of thousands of former miners has deteriorated as a direct result of the working conditions they faced deep underground at the coal face.

As employees in a nationalised industry, they had a clear case for compensation from the Government.

In recent years, we have shared the frustration of retired miners and their families over the delays in payments being made.

At long last, we appear to be seeing progress in cutting through the unnecessary burden of red tape and bureaucracy which has clogged up the compensation process.

Today, the Prime Minister is expected to acknowledge the failings of the system and express his desire to speed things up further.

He is also expected to extend the compensation payments to miners who have contracted asthma.

While this concession is most welcome, we sincerely hope that the extra burden on the administrative process does not detract from the urgency to settle the many thousands of claims which are still outstanding after so many years.