Man arrested over Cumbria rail crash

LONDON (Reuters) - A Network Rail employee has been arrested in connection with a high-speed rail crash in Cumbria in February that killed one passenger, British Transport Police said on Friday.

A spokeswoman said a 46-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday and subsequently released on police bail until October 31.

A Virgin Pendolino tilting train, heading from London to Glasgow, derailed at 95 mph (150 kph) in the Feb 23 accident in a remote area of Cumbria, scattering carriages down the side of a steep embankment.

The crash claimed the life of 84-year-old Margaret Masson from Edinburgh and 22 passengers were taken to hospital.

"The investigation into the derailment is ongoing," the British Transport Police spokeswoman said.

Officials from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch said in a preliminary report on the accident that a set of points near the site of the accident had been faulty.

Network Rail Chief Executive John Armitt stated at the time of the report that his company accepted full responsibility.

The company said on Friday it had "no idea" that one of its employees had been arrested and was looking into details of the arrest urgently.

"We have not heard anything from British Transport Police," a spokeswoman told Reuters.

Virgin Trains is 49 percent-owned by bus and train operator Stagecoach Group and 51 percent by Virgin Group.