Rail firm forced to shut track

A stretch of 100mph track on Britain's busiest railway line had to be shut because of faulty repairs.

A catalogue of dangerous faults were found on the section of track near Watford.

Sections of rail on the West Coast Main Line were out of line, clamps were missing, bolts not properly tightened and sleepers were twisted.

Nearly 100 trains including dozens of passengers services passed the spot for 12 hours before the faults were discovered. Mowlem, the firm which carried out the track relaying work, has been suspended from the ?25 million contract while Network Rail investigate.

Experts said it was a miracle that there had not been an accident like Potters Bar in 2002, where seven people died and 76 were injured.

Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT rail union, said: "This is a disgrace, safety should come first. Only some decisive action by railway professionals- - and a good slice of luck - preventeda potentially massive accident." Labour MP John McDonnell said that the industry should be brought back in to public ownership. He said: "How many more passengers will have to be killed by this disgraceful fragmented system before the Government acts?"

Mowlem began working on Saturday 8 January on the section of track at Bushey Bank, 16 miles from Euston station. They finished at 5.30am on Monday January 10 after signing the job off as "fit for purpose".

Twelve hours later after 96 trains from Euston had passed the spot, a driver reported a "rough ride".

Staff at Watford immediately shut the line, which is used by Virgin trains and Silverlink services as well as freight trains. Mowlem's profits for last year are expected to be about ?30 million.