Jarvis quits rail contract

Network Rail is to take three rail repair contracts operated by Jarvis in-house after the engineering group said today it would stop doing such work.

Jarvis, which is at the centre of the Potters bar rail crash inquiry, said it was a "commercial decision" to exit the rail maintenance contracts.

The company currently operates three contracts on behalf of Network Rail - Central, East Coast Main Line and Liverpool, and North Wales and Merseyrail.

Jarvis chairman Paris Moayedi said: "The board of Jarvis has decided to focus on the business of delivering its core services to even higher standards of excellence."

Rail maintenance accounts for less than 15% of Jarvis's turnover and Jarvis now intends to concentrate on its other core activities, including track renewals.

Mr Moayedi added: "Network Rail (NR) has decided to take these contracts back in-house. We will work closely with NR to ensure the handover is as smooth as possible."