Paddington Inquiry begins

Tuesday 21 December 1999 00:00 GMT

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The preliminary hearing into the Paddington Rail disaster will be held today with victims families and rail safety campaigners desperate for answers.

Lord Cullen will open the proceedings into the two-train crash which killed 31 people during rush hour on October 5.

Early evidence seems to show that a Thames train passed a red stop light and travelled on for 700 meters before colliding with a Great Western express train.

Today's hearing will decide who is to be present at the hearing in Spring and exactly how best to conduct the inquiry.

Both drivers were among the 31 killed in the crash and 400 people were injured.

No evidence will be heard today and the inquiry proper begins in Spring 2000.

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