THE INQUEST into the Grayrigg derailment of 2007 has heard on its first day how a Virgin Pendolino travelling at speed 'leapt in the air' as it became derailed at a crossover.

One person died in the derailment during the evening of 23 February, which left most of the train strewn down an embankment in Cumbria.

The driver of the train, Ian Black, sustained a broken neck in the crash. He said the train had "leapt in the air", propelling him upwards out of his seat until he hit the cab roof.

A statement from David Langley, a retired train conductor who has died since the crash, but not as a result of it, was read to the hearing. In it, he described how he had lost consciousness after the derailment had started.

He said: "The next thing I recall is being six feet in the air. I was wedged in by the coach side and a table and I had the round table pole between my legs. The train was on its side.

"I remember it was dark outside but the carriage was quite brightly lit."

Mr Langley also described how Margaret Masson, 84, who was from Glasgow, had evidently been thrown about by the impact and had been left lying across her daughter. They were calling each other's name.

Mrs Masson was rescued alive, and taken to hospital in Lancaster by helicopter, but died from her injuries at about 23.00 on the day of the accident.

A Rail Accident Investigation Branch inquiry has determined that the train had become derailed at about 95mph (153km/h) because facing points which formed part of a crossover at Lambrigg had not been properly maintained. The crossover has since been removed.

The inquest at Kendal is due to hear from a total of 30 witnesses, and to last at least a fortnight.