not been maintained with reasonable care

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 took firefighters nearly two days to put out the blaze

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.

A hearing in the case is due to take place.

The locomotive was pulling the wagons from Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, to Theale, near Reading, when the derailment occurred.

The line was closed for six months after the incident and did not fully reopen for almost a year, with 30,000 tonnes of fuel-soaked soil having to be excavated.

Network Rail said that work following the incident was 'one of the biggest environmental recovery operations Network Rail has ever been involved with'.

The RAIB made nine recommendations to avoid similar accidents.

Network Rail and DB Cargo declined to comment, while Touax has been approached for comment.

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No one was injured, but 116,000 litres of fuel ignited while 330,000 litres drained into surrounding wet