It is too early to say who, if anyone, was to blame for the tragic death of widow Margaret Evans on the railway line at Tackley.

But it is right that there should be a full investigation.

One of the questions to be asked is whether it is safe to allow passengers to walk across the track on such a busy line.

The Oxford-Birmingham route is a major artery on the rail network, carrying passenger and freight traffic - and many of the trains pass Tackley at high speed.

Network Rail clearly thought at one stage that safety measures were needed because it applied for, and was given, planning permission to build an underground tunnel.

But it later changed its mind, believing that signs warning passengers to stop, look and listen were sufficient.

With nearly 2,500 footpath crossings on our railways, it would clearly be impossible to build bridges and subways at every one.

But we hope Network Rail will reconsider its decision not to go ahead with the work at Tackley.

One death is one too many.