Jarvis defends Potters Bar workers

JARVIS, the contractor responsible for maintaining the track at the fatal Potters Bar crash, has dismissed suggestions its workers were underqualified.

Seven people were killed and more than 70 injured on Friday when a high-speed train derailed at the station, 12 miles north of London, and ploughed onto the platform. Initial inquiries have suggested missing nuts in the rail switching points were the probable cause.

Jarvis said one of its maintenance teams tested the Potters Bar track on 1 May and a visual inspection followed on 9 May, the day before the crash. Jarvis and rail network operator Railtrack have said the points at the centre of the accident investigation met safety standards on 9 May.

'In both cases, these tests and inspections were carried out by full-time Jarvis employees. No sub-contracted personnel were involved,' Jarvis said in a statement released by the London Stock Exchange on Monday. 'Each of the Jarvis staff involved is fully experienced and qualified and holds all requisite training certification,' it added in the statement dated May 12.

The Times newspaper reported Railtrack chief John Armitt had been 'deeply concerned' about casual, unqualified labourers being hired to repair tracks. Armitt told the paper that contracts with rail maintenance companies such as Jarvis were too short to encourage investment in sufficient numbers of qualified staff and modern equipment. 'There's always a tendency, particularly in construction-related industries, to take a short cut and try and do a job more quickly,' he was quoted saying.

Jarvis shares fell nearly 15% in early trade to 425p. They dropped 4% directly after Friday's derailment.