Managers warned of track problems

Rail managers were warned weeks in advance about track problems near the points thought to be responsible for the Potters Bar rail crash that killed seven people. Bob Crow, general secretary of rail union RMT, said a member had written a letter to managers stating that the track was not in a fit state but that: "No response was made to him and he is now speaking to British Transport Police explaining what he wrote."

Rail unions have rejected claims by secretary of state Stephen Byers and Railtrack that the crash was a "one-off", and say tracks are not being inspected often enough to prevent accidents. Bob Crow has called for a public inquiry to "look into the shambolic way in which infrastructure maintenance is organised." The union also wants an end to Railtrack's policy of employing sub-contractors to carry out maintenance work stating that "the case for bringing all maintenance back in-house is already irresistible."

* A preliminary report from the Health and Safety Executive which is investigating the Potters Bar crash says the cause of the incident was a points failure.