Rail companies sued for £5m over oil spill caused by derailment

Network Rail is suing two rail companies for more than £5m after a fuel spill caused by a train derailment threatened an "environmental disaster" at a designated site for protection.

The body filed a legal claim earlier this month against DB Cargo UK and Touax Rail over the derailment near Llangennech, Carmarthenshire, in August 2020.

The incident saw 10 wagons of the 25-wagon train derail , causing 446,000 litres of fuel to spill, and about 300 people had to leave the area due to the blaze.

In High Court documents, Network Rail claimed that the derailment occurred because the wagon had "not been maintained with reasonable care" and is seeking damages for negligence.

No one was injured, but 116,000 litres of fuel ignited while 330,000 litres drained into surrounding wetlands, which form part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation.

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) concluded in January 2022 that the derailment was caused by a set of wheels on one of the wagons locking, likely the result of a brake defect after "inadequate maintenance practices" were found in the investigation.

Network Rail, which owns, operates, maintains and develops Britain's railways, claimed that the derailment occurred because the wagon had "not been maintained with reasonable care" by Touax.

It is also seeking damages from DB Cargo UK, claiming that the latter "breached a contractual duty to ensure that reasonable care was taken" in maintaining the wagon.