Closing statements on the joint inquiry into the Southall and Paddington rail crashes were due to be made today at the Central Hall in Westmin-ster.

Those parties who have been involved with the inquiry over the last month will be asked to summarise their written statements before the two chairmen, the Right Honourable Lord Cullen PC and Professor John Uff QC.

The inquiry has seen 81 witnesses quizzed over 18 days, including company directors, senior civil servants, academics and engineers and consultants from the rail industry.

The inquiry's brief was to look into matters which were common to both crashes and make general recommendations on train protection and warning systems, the future application of automatic train protection systems (ATPs) and measures to prevent signals passed at danger (SPADs).

The Southall crash killed seven people, including 57-year-old Swindon College principal Clive Brain, in September 1997.

The Paddington crash killed 31 people, including 35-year-old David Roberts, from Kingshill, Swindon, and 61-year-old Bryan Tompson, from Ampney Crucis, near Cirencester, in October last year.

Part two of the Paddington inquiry will continue on Monday, which will consider experience gained from other recent accidents and possibilities for making safety changes and changes to the current regulatory regime.