Jarvis Rail, the York-based maintenance company at the centre of the investigation into the Potters Bar train crash, has suspended some bonuses to board members until the cause of the accident is known.

Colin Skellett, chairman of Jarvis plc, said at the company's annual meeting yesterday that the Potters Bar accident was "a dreadful tragedy".

He added: "On the question of pay and bonuses, which has received much attention, we have not paid and will not pay any bonuses in relation to the period covered by the Potters Bar tragedy until we are absolutely clear as to what happened and where responsibilities lie."

Last month, the Evening Press reported how a number of Jarvis board members were set to receive substantial bonuses for the 12 months ending March 2002.

This included a £150,000 bonus for chief executive Paris Moayedi. The rises were criticised by survivors and relatives of the Potters Bar victims.

Jarvis bonuses are calculated on a set formula which includes the meeting of operational safety targets.

Jarvis was responsible for work on the section of track where seven people were killed when a West Anglia Great Northern train derailed at a set of points near Potters Bar station.

The company has refused to rule out sabotage as a possible cause.

Last month, Jarvis said Railtrack was alerted to a problem on the line at Potters Bar just hours before the crash but directed maintenance workers to inspect the wrong section of track.

Mr Skellett added: "A number of investigations into the cause of the accident are under way and we are co-operating fully with the investigators.

"I hope that, when these investigations are complete, we will have a clear picture as to what happened and why.

"There has been much speculation surrounding the accident but this really is premature until investigations have been completed and all the relevant facts taken into account."

Updated: 11:37 Friday, August 02, 2002