Broad Scheme of the Inquest
This is a provisional overview timetable for the rest of the Inquest. It is likely to change, but it provides the best guidance presently available on the planned structure of the inquest. It is intended to be comprehensive of the areas of inquiry identified in the submissions of counsel to the inquest. Other topics may emerge. There remains slippage time into August.
| WEEK | DAY | DATE | SUBJECT-MATTER |
| 1 | 1 | 1 June | Jury selection. Coroner’s opening address. |
| 2 | 2 June | The occurrence of the accident: a description of the physical event. The journey on the train: crew and passengers; how injuries were sustained. The southbound train. | |
| 3 | 3 June | The persons on the platforms. The bridge: people driving near the bridge; people near the bridge; lay response. | |
| 2 | 4 | 7 June | The immediate response of emergency services and police; passenger egress. |
| 5 | 8 June | Police and BTP; the immediate investigation and securing of the scene and evidence. | |
| 6 | 9 June | The injured and dead; movement of injured and bodies; treatment of the injured; identification of the deceased and notification of the bereaved; post-mortem examinations. Family evidence about the deceased. | |
| 7 | 10 June | Immediate response of rail industry companies to the derailment (deployment to the scene); initial presentation by Mr Heyes on the mechanics of the derailment. | |
| 7A | 11 June | Visit to working set of points at Paddock Wood. | |
| 3 | 8 | 14 June | The physical findings at the scene; the carriages; what was found on the ground. |
| 9 | 15 June | Deductions of experts as to the likely condition of the points prior to the derailment. How the derailment occurred: expert analysis of the findings at the scene. Underlying causes of the likely condition of the points. | |
| 10 | 16 June | How the derailment occurred: expert analysis of the findings at the scene [contd.]. Underlying causes of the likely condition of the points [contd.]. | |
| 11 | 17 June | How the derailment occurred: expert analysis of the findings at the scene [contd.]. Underlying causes of the likely condition of the points [contd.]. Crashworthiness of the carriage. The construction of the bridge. Track and station layout, including ‘cheeseweights’. | |
| 4 | 12 | 21 June | Rough ride reports in May 2002, procedures and in general. |
| 13 | 22 June | A brief history of points. The development and design of points with adjustable stretcher bars. The actual installation of points 2182A. Red zone working. | |
| 14 | 23 June | The organisation and management of maintenance and inspections in 2002, including: structures; contractual arrangements; standards. | |
| 15 | 24 June | The organisation and management of maintenance and inspections in 2002, including: structures; contractual arrangements; standards [contd.]. | |
| 5 | 16 | 28 June | Maintenance and inspection of points 2182A (including training and qualifications of personnel). |
| 17 | 29 June | Maintenance and inspection of points 2182A (including training and qualifications of personnel) [contd.]. | |
| 18 | 30 June | Maintenance and inspection of points 2182A (including training and qualifications of personnel) [contd.]. | |
| 19 | 1 July | Maintenance and inspection of points 2182A (including training and qualifications of personnel) [contd.]. | |
| 6 | 20 | 5 July | Maintenance and inspection of points 2182A (including training and qualifications of personnel) [contd.]. |
| 21 | 6 July | Training for maintenance and inspection in relation to points and generally. Fault reporting. Procurement. | |
| 22 | 7 July | The HSE interim report no. 1. The response to the findings about the cause of the derailment (including comments regarding vandalism). | |
| 23 | 8 July | Other findings and investigations in relation to points, whether by BTP, HSE, Railtrack, Network Rail, RAIB etc. | |
| 7 | 24 | 12 July | Grayrigg derailment of February 2007; Grayrigg findings in January 2007; report into Grayrigg derailment. |
| 25 | 13 July | Other incidents before and since Potters Bar. Other reports concerning rail accidents (including Southall, Ladbroke Grove, Hatfield). The current legal structure of the railways. | |
| 26 | 14 July | Regulatory structure of the railways. The HSE investigation into Potters Bar. Response of industry bodies to recommendations. | |
| 27 | 15 July | The chronology of investigations and other reports; delay in hearing the inquest. | |
| 8 | 28 | 19 July | What more should be done to avoid such accidents? Safety and risk management. |
| 29 | 20 July | What more should be done to avoid such accidents? Safety and risk management. [Contd.] | |
| 30 | 21 July | SLIPPAGE | |
| 31 | 22 July | Closing submissions to the coroner | |
| 9 | 32 | 26 July | Summing-up |
| 33 | 27 July | Summing-up and retirement of jury | |
| 34 | 28 July | ||
| 35 | 29 July | ||