Prison labour on rail line sparks fears for safety

Published on Sunday 13 May 2007 01:13

CONVICTED prisoners are working as labourers on the West Coast mainline between England and Scotland, justice officials admitted last night.

Around 100 prisoners have worked on the line in the past year, although only seven inmates are currently involved.

The prison service in England said the work was part of the training for freedom programmes normally undertaken by inmates before their release.

It added that rigorous risk assessment was carried out before work started.

Network Rail said prisoners were not involved in attaching nuts and bolts to lines or any safety critical work.

But the revelation led to a storm of criticism last night. It was on the West Coast main line near Grayrigg, Cumbria, that a Virgin express train derailed three months ago, killing 84-year-old Scottish grandmother Margaret "Peggy" Masson and seriously injuring the driver.

The workers, all volunteers, receive the national minimum of 53.50 for ten hours.