THE Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has decided not to pursue the prosecution of maintenance company Jarvis Rail over the 2002 Potters Bar train crash.

ORR said that while there remains sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction, a prosecution would no longer be in the public interest.

The organisation said a trial of Jarvis alone would be lengthy and costly, and if convicted would lead to only a small financial penalty.

They added that members of the victim's families expressed views that there was little value in continuing the prosecution.

The news comes after Network Rail indicated it would enter a guilty plea at a hearing at Watford Magistrates on Monday, February 21, to charges of breaching health and safety.

Seven people were killed in the Potters Bar crash, after the derailment of the 12.45pm London to King's Lynn service on May 10, 2002.