Passenger groups have hit out this week after it was revealed that the contractor responsible for the faulty points that caused the Potters Bar train crash will play a leading role in managing the Northern Line.

A report, released on Thursday by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), concluded that poor maintenance by contractor Jarvis was the cause of the crash, with nuts missing from a set of points, causing them to "fail catastrophically".

Jarvis was announced in May as one of three members of consortium Tube Lines, due to take over maintenance of the Tube track for the Northern, Jubilee and Piccadilly Lines.

Cynthia Hay, co-ordinator of the Capital Transport Campaign, said: "I think the recent findings of the Potters Bar inquiry will panic passengers, especially as Jarvis is part of the consortium looking after the Northern Line.

"With somebody like Jarvis on board then passengers have every right to be concerned. We want to see the Northern Line properly maintained so that improvement can be made."

But Chris Rumfitt of Tube Lines, said: "Jarvis is one of our sponsors and will not be taking over the rail maintenance. We will be drawing on Jarvis's pool of skilled managers and taking people out of it to work for us for a given length of time."

July 10, 2002 17:00