Firms accept liability for Potters Bar rail crash

In a joint statement made today Network Rail and Jarvis plc have formally accepted liability for the 2002 Potters Bar rail crash.

Network Rail and Jarvis said they hoped that by "formalising the liability issue, those affected by the tragedy will gain some level of comfort and assistance".

However, the investigation into the rail crash in which seven people were killed will continue.

Railtrack, now known as Network Rail, had previously declared it would take the lead in settling claims and that all legally justified claims would be handled as if liability had been accepted. This was to ensure that the issue of liability did not stand in the way of settling claims or cause unnecessary distress to those involved whilst the accident remained under investigation.

Network Rail and Jarvis have now agreed that they should formally accept liability on behalf of the industry for claims brought by the bereaved and injured despite the continuing investigations into the root cause of the accident.

While it was initially thought that vandalism may have been to blame for the crash, subsequent investigations have effectively ruled out this possibility.

(SP)