Jarvis under investigation over claims of falsifying paperwork

Jarvis is being investigated over allegations that records of substandard rail upgrades were falsified, according to the BBC's website today (Thursday).

It is claimed that major questions are being raised over the quality of work done by the contractor over the summer to upgrade the West Coast Main Line.

On one particular stretch of rail between Stoke and Macclesfield it is alleged that sections of track had not been laid correctly.  

The website added that Network Rail has now issued a statement stressing that it was angry that the work had not been done properly.

It also went further with chief executive John Armitt adding that the rail operator had received allegations that records had been falsified and that it would be investigating the matter.

He added: "There is a full investigation underway being led by the director of projects and engineering and the chief engineer. When they have established the full facts then the executive directors of company will decide what action needs to be taken."

Jarvis told the BBC that it categorically denies there have been falsifications of any paperwork and insists that the final documents have not yet been received by Network Rail.

It admitted that some preliminary papers had gone forward, conceding these might have contained anomalies, but maintained that these would have been picked up the company's quality control.

Jarvis said no final certificate for the work had been issued and that it was correcting the faults in the upgrade work.

It added that any employee who did falsify paperwork would be subject to instant dismissal and possible prosecution.