POLICE chiefs investigating the Potters Bar rail crash have denied claims they are about to charge two rail workers in connection with the disaster.

Sunday newspapers reported that detectives at British Transport Police (BTP) were poised to quiz the men, and speculated that Jarvis Rail could be hauled into court.

Jarvis Rail, which is based in York, was the company responsible for maintaining the track at Potters Bar Station, where a train derailed last May.

Seven people died and more than 70 people were injured in the tragedy. Investigations have centered on a set of faulty points near the crash scene. Jarvis Rail has claimed sabotage.

Reports had suggested that BTP officers were set to make arrests following their investigations, but this has been denied.

A BTP spokesman said: "The inquiry is still ongoing. We still have found no evidence to support the sabotage theory, but we can't and will probably never be able to rule it out completely.

"There is no credence at all to these claims (in Sunday newspapers)."

A Jarvis Rail spokesman said: "We continue to help with the investigation as we have done and give our full co-operation to it.

"This is news to us. Police have given us no indication that this is one of the lines they are pursuing."

Updated: 11:08 Monday, March 10, 2003