Public rail crashes probe ruled out

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Instead, Transport Secretary Lord Adonis announced that the public interest was "best served" by holding two independent inquests into the disasters.

The decision is sure to anger relatives of the victims and rail unions which have long pressed for a joint public inquiry into the crashes which were both caused by faulty sets of points.

Lord Adonis said on Friday: "I have decided that the public interest is best served by the continuation of the two inquests that have begun into the deaths resulting from the rail accidents at Potters Bar and at Grayrigg.

"I have therefore decided not to convene a public inquiry into the accidents, either individually or jointly."

He went on: "I regret the length of time taken to reach this point, and the anxiety that this may have caused to those who have lost loved ones. However, the chronology of events and the issues are complex and I considered it important to ensure that my decision regarding the next steps is the right one.

"Having considered the material before me, I am satisfied that separate inquests will allow for appropriate further independent investigations of the accidents, with the bereaved and injured able to participate and express their views and concerns in a transparent forum open to public scrutiny."

Gerry Doherty, leader of the TSSA rail union, said: "This is another classic example of this Government doing the complete opposite of what it claims to be doing.

Mr Doherty went on: "If they were really interested in letting the public know what happened at Potters Bar - and the role that private contractors Jarvis played in that accident - they would have ordered a full public inquiry into the tragedy years ago.

"They're not, and the culture of spin and secrecy which are the hallmarks of the Department for Transport will continue right up until the election next May."