Train operator's share price falls

Shares in National Express, which runs WAGN trains, fell as much as six per cent after today's crash.

The country's largest train operator, it saw its shares tumble by up to 43p to 642p.

National Express has repeatedly criticised the state of the lines, run by Railtrack, which WAGN services use.

Last October, the operator complained of "extreme disruption" on the WAGN network in the aftermath of Railtrack's nationwide safety work following the Hatfield derailment in 2000. It said WAGN was habitually struggling with severe punctuality and reliability problems.

Two months ago it reiterated its concerns over "persistent infrastructure problems", demanding Railtrack address problems on the lines "as a matter of urgency".

Other train firms' shares suffered on the news. Go-Ahead, involved in the Paddington disaster, saw its shares dive 35p to 710p. First Group, whose trains were involved at Paddington and Southall, saw its shares fall 5p to 318p.