RAIL maintenance firm Jarvis will not face prosecution over the 2002 Potters Bar rail crash.
The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has concluded that, while there remains sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction of Jarvis, a prosecution would no longer be in the public interest.
In coming to the decision the regulator took into account of a number of factors, including: the changed nature of any future trial – Jarvis’ administrators said they would take no part in any proceedings, while Network Rail has already pleaded guilty.
Under the circumstances, continuing proceedings against Jarvis would mean that any trial would be of Jarvis alone.
An ORR spokesman said: “A trial of Jarvis alone would be lengthy, costly, if convicted lead to only a small financial penalty and delay the conclusion of the proceedings against Network Rail; and members of the victims’ families expressed the view that there was little value in continuing the prosecution.”
The next hearing of the proceedings against Network Rail will take place at St Albans Crown Court on March 30 when a provisional date for the sentencing of Network Rail should be set.
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