Byers calls for rail shake-up

Transport Secretary Stephen Byers today called for a "fundamental change" in the relationship between rail maintenance contractors amid growing controversy over the cause of the Potters Bar train crash.

Mr Byers told the national conference of train drivers' union Aslef that changes to the way railway maintenance was managed was "vital" for the industry's future.

His comments will further encourage critics convinced that faulty repairs must have played a part in the fatal derailment at Potters Bar 10 days ago in which seven passengers died.

But he fell short of demands from the rail unions for all maintenance to be taken back in-house by Railtrack. The company's chief executive John Armitt had ruled this out even though a few days before the crash he said he had become deeply worried over the use of casual, unqualified labour.

Mr Byers refused to comment today on claims by contractor Jarvis, responsible for maintaining the track at Potters Bar, that sabotage could have caused the derailment.

Mick Rix, Aslef's general secretary, accused Jarvis of "jumping the gun" on the industry investigation for commercial reasons.

The Transport Secretary, who arrived a few minutes late at the conference in Scarborough because of a late-running train, went further than ever before in calling for a new model of maintenance contracting.

He told delegates that when awarding contracts, "safety that has to be paramount, not the lowest price". He added: "Change is essential and a new relationship is vital. I say that because of concerns over the relationship between contractors and sub-contractor."

He said Network Rail, the likely successor to Railtrack, recognised changes needed to take place. He said the new organisation would put the public and the industry first instead of shareholders. To warm applause from Aslef delegates, a defiant Mr Byers told them that if he had his time over again he would have made exactly the same decision to place Railtrack into administration.

He referred to the "vicious" personal attacks against him for his controversial decision last October, but maintained Railtrack had been a failure and the decision was essential. After his 40-minute speech to the conference - the first appearance by a Transport Secretary there since 1978 - Mr Byers received a standing ovation.

Aslef president Martin Samways praised Mr Byers for attending but said the jury was still out on him unless he scrapped the controversial part-privatisation of London Underground, a subject the minister totally avoided in his speech.

Unions are increasingly concerned about the role of private contractors in the proposed Tube PPP and warn it will duplicate safety failures on the mainline system.

Commuter services resumed through Potters Bar today as fresh concern mounted over the state of the railways. The station and highspeed routes to the North reopened following the crash of a WAGN train from King's Cross at near 100mph, in which seven died and 76 were injured, 10 seriously.

Jarvis Rail today reiterated earlier claims a saboteur with special knowledge of the railways could be responsible by damaging the points at the centre of the investigation. The firm said today in a statement to the Stock Exchange that its records showed maintenance and inspection of the points were carried out "in accordance with the regime agreed with Railtrack". It said two teams were involved - specialist signal technicians and patrolmen carrying out weekly inspections, adding: "They are experienced railwaymen.".

Jarvis says it has sent its " evidence" of the sabotage claim, centres on a claim by a metallurgist to the Health and Safety Executive which is investigating the crash.

But rail industry experts have said the chance vandalism was to blame was "less than one per cent" and Railtrack said it was confident a "unique set of circumstances" had caused the crash.

Mick Rix, general secretary of Aslef said: "Jarvis are jumping the gun. Speculation from them has more to do with propping up its share price."