Rail crash victims scorn Jarvis pledge

Rail crash victims said today they are unimpressed by a pledge from the chairman of maintenance company Jarvis to resign if investigations showed its board could have acted to prevent the tragedy.

Seven people died and more than 70 people were injured in the Potters Bar crash on 10 May when a WAGN train derailed near Potters Bar station in Hertfordshire.

Jarvis, whose chairman is Collin Skellett, was responsible for maintaining the track. He made the pledge at the firm's annual meeting. But Robin Mabey, brother of survivor Nina Bawden, 77, said: "The Secretary of State said that the state of this track was appalling. Well, the track didn't get into this state by itself. So Jarvis or Railtrack must be responsible and I call upon them to admit liability."