20 years since the Great Heck rail crash
Virtual memorials are being held to remember the 10 people who lost their lives.
Virtual memorials are being held today to remember those who lost their lives during the Great Heck rail crash.
On the morning of 28th February 2001 an InterCity 225 passenger train operated by GNER hit a Land Rover which had careered off the M62 and crashed onto the East Coast main line. The derailed train was then hit by an oncoming freight train. Ten people lost their lives that day including the drivers of both trains, and 82 were seriously injured.
It remains the worst rail disaster of the 21st century in the United Kingdom.
Bob Hoskins is the York Station Manager at North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, and was one of the emergency service crew called out that day: "We got called out early in the morning, and it was a very cold Winter's morning with snow.
"The train was in the middle of the field, and people were walking across to it. The scene and the atmosphere will stay with me for a long time. It was very surreal, and the enormity of it was just sinking in.
"The day is poignant for me, and it will be for a very long time. We had a large response from a number of services, and set up quite a large area at a farm close to the incident. There were chaplains there for support and the Salvation Army providing food.
"At the time, you deal with the incident in hand and help each other get through these things afterwards. The crew that I was with were there for about 3 days.
"We had the rescue phase initially, and then the recovery phase for those who unfortunately lost their lives. It was a long and protracted incident, and a once in a career incident that I hope others in the emergency services don't ever have to attend".
LNER are hosting a virtual memorial event at 10am today, and Selby Abbey will hold a similar service at 2pm.
The Vicar of Selby Abbey is Canon John Weetman: "A commemorative candle will be lit for each of those who lost their lives.
"I wasn't in Selby when the crash happened, but like most people it sticks in the memory. 20 years on, it certainly hasn't been forgotten - not just by those who were directly involved but people more generally.
"It's the idea of coming together with others to remember. For each person affected this is very much still a part of their lives, so to have that shared grieving and recognition is important".