Jarvis escapes prosecution

Unions have reacted angrily to an official decision not to charge rail maintenance firm Jarvis over the Potters Bar rail disaster.

In 2002, as a result of the poor maintenance of tracks seven people were killed and 70 injured at the Potters Bar railway station.

The rail regulator, the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), has been investigating the tragedy. However, the ORR has announced that it is dropping charges against Jarvis saying “a prosecution would no longer be in the public interest”. In 2010, Jarvis went broke and was put in administration.

Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT rail union, said: “Those responsible for creating that lethal culture have escaped prosecution for their role creating an avoidable disaster, and it is clear that key lessons have not been learned.”

The train drivers’ union ASLEF responded that “it is difficult not to conclude that the decision to drop charges was motivated more by a desire to save money than a desire for justice.”