THE engineering group at the centre of the Potters Bar rail crash inquiry yesterday indicated it expected half-year turnover and profits to be substantially ahead of last year.

Jarvis said group turnover had seen strong growth, principally due to its railtrack renewal work, in the half-year to September 30.

Last year, the group saw a 26 per cent increase in turnover to £534.4m, with operating profits before goodwill rising by 20 per cent to £29.1m.

The company was responsible for maintaining the section of track south of Potters Bar station, where seven people died when a train derailed on a set of points. Investigations into the accident are continuing.

Jarvis has admitted it could be responsible for a derailment outside London's King's Cross station last month, after a damaged section being repaired by Jarvis contractors was not replaced.

Late last month, the firm was also in court to answer a charge of breaching health and safety regulations relating to a coal train derailment near Rotherham, in south Yorkshire. The case was adjourned until October 20.

The group said the strong growth in turnover was principally due to its track renewal activities for Network Rail, particularly its £40m revenues from contracts on the West Coast Main Line modernisation scheme.