Railtrack sent Potters Bar crew to 'check wrong track'

Railtrack was alerted to a problem on the line at Potters Bar just hours before the rail crash that killed seven people, but directed maintenance workers to inspect the wrong section of track, it was claimed today.

The gaffe meant that a fault on the track that could have caused the crash may have been missed, a spokesman for rail maintenance contractor Jarvis said.

The spokesman said it was believed that on the evening of 9 May – the day before the crash – a rail worker taking the train home noticed a "rough ride" on the track out of London near Potters Bar station.

He notified Railtrack who contacted Jarvis who claim that they were asked to take a look at a problem on the track going into London, called the "up line".

The rough ride was recorded at about 9.30pm and Jarvis staff went to inspect the track at about midnight, said the Jarvis spokesman.

He said: "I can confirm that we were notified of a rough ride on the up fast line and we went to inspect the up line and didn't find anything wrong with it."

The workers would not have thought to check any other section of track as they were not allowed access to other areas without permission from Railtrack, said the spokesman.

Jarvis claim to have a tape–recorded message of the instruction from Railtrack requesting an inspection of the up line into London and not the outward line on which the accident took place.

The Jarvis spokesman said the Health and Safety Executive and British Transport Police conducting the inquiry into the accident knew of the issue and had been given all relevant documentation weeks ago.

A Railtrack spokesman said the claims were "speculative".

"Tape recordings of conversations and information fed to and from our signalling centre at King's Cross were withdrawn by the British Transport Police immediately following the Potters Bar tragedy as a routine part of their investigation," he said.

"As a result Railtrack is unable to comment on the allegations made today by the BBC and the story remains speculative at this time."

A British Transport Police spokesman said the investigation into the Potters Bar crash was likely to continue for several months.

"We are certainly aware of the allegation and it does form part of our investigation," he Jarvis said the "rough ride" complaint was made by an off–duty WAGN

worker.

"Jarvis was requested by Railtrack to inspect the up line, i.e. the line running toward King's Cross station, in the vicinity of Potters Bar," a spokesman said.

"A Jarvis patrol duly inspected the up line at 00.47am on 10 May, and found no cause for the reported rough ride.

"The derailment at Potters Bar in the early afternoon of 10 May occurred on the down line, i.e. the line running away from King's Cross.

"Jarvis was not asked to inspect this line and did not do so."

The spokesman said he could not comment on claims that the complaint was made about the down line, or suggestions that Railtrack should have ordered Jarvis to inspect that line.

He confirmed that the firm had kept a copy of the tape recording of Railtrack's instructions, which he said confirmed that they were instructed to check the up line.

Louise Christian, the solicitor acting for some of the victims of the Potters Bar crash and their families, said relatives had contacted her about the latest revelations and were "absolutely appalled".

"No–one has admitted liability for this crash and while Railtrack and Jarvis are playing this blame game it is the victims who are suffering.

"It underlines the need for a public inquiry because this process isn't open or transparent.

"We need a senior judge to stop all these claims and counter–claims."