Track danger 'wider than feared'

The rail industry was today rocked by new allegations of poor safety following what police believe are dangerous practices uncovered on the East Coast main line which connects King's Cross station with the North.

Police investigating May's Potters Bar tragedy, in which seven people died, fear the alleged poor supervision of track maintenance staff may be much wider than first suspected.

The findings will increase pressure on Transport Secretary Alistair Darling to take a direct role and order a much tighter control on private maintenance contractors.

Work records nationwide are being scrupulously examined by British Transport Police. Where there is any doubt, the track will have to be inspected again and possibly work redone.

Safety chiefs confirmed that across the entire rail network an inspection had revealed a "spectrum of standards" about the condition of track points.

On the West Coast main line, inspectors found three sets of points in the Wembley and Watford area in such poor condition that they were immediately ordered to be taken out of service.