GARY Hart, the driver at the centre of the Selby rail disaster, has been slapped with a High Court writ as rail firms demand compensation.

Railtrack is to sue Hart for more than £11 million to reclaim clean-up and repair costs resulting from the tragedy.

A writ was served on Hart at the end of last month, which also aims to redress lost business, the company said.

Hart is serving a five-year jail sentence after being found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.

He was found guilty of falling asleep at the wheel of his Land Rover, causing it to career off the M62 and on to the East Coast Main Line.

There it was hit by a GNER express travelling to London, which derailed and ploughed into a freight train near Great Heck.

Ten people died in the tragedy, in February 2001.

A Railtrack spokesman said: "The writ was served on March 28. It's an insurance procedure. Our insurers are seeking to recoup the costs of the Great Heck accident from Gary Hart's insurers.

"We had the biggest costs because we footed the bill for the clean-up operation, repairing the track and so on.

"In terms of car insurance, it's probably the biggest claim we have come across."

Fortis Insurance, representing Hart, is already dealing with dozens of compensation claims lodged by survivors of the tragedy.

A spokeswoman said today: "We are aware of the writ issue against Gary Hart in respect of the Selby incident.

"This is normal procedure and we have the necessary re-insurance arrangements in place."

The company added the case would "not impact on its solvency or its ability to meet future liabilities".

Railtrack added GNER was also looking to recover losses as a result of the crash and freight operator EWS was likely to follow suit.

No-one from GNER was available to comment as the Evening Press was published today.

Updated: 10:57 Friday, April 12, 2002