An inquest into the Potters Bar train crash, which resulted in the deaths of seven people on May 10 2002, has heard how a company boss tried repeatedly to warn staff that he thought something was wrong on the eve of the accident. Peter Prime said that he felt the train lurch near to where the crash happened the following day, and described the movement as being very unusual and worrying.

Mr Prime told the inquest that he reported his concerns to a member of the buffet car staff, and was told to wait for the train manager to come and see him. The train manager never turned up. Mr Prime then decided to contact Great North Eastern Railway by telephone to convey his concerns.

A member of the GNER staff explained that the train had some problems with the tracking, but that the problem was being seen to. Faulty points would later cause the 1245 London to Kings Lynn service to leave that tracks killing seven people and injuring 70.

Mr Prime was not alone in voicing his concerns. Terrence Moore, a station announcer, told the inquest that the ride over the points was a lot more violent than usual. He added that the roughness of the ride caused him to visit the ticket office and ask that the station supervisor be told about his worries over the safety of the track.

Derek Jackson, the ticket seller Mr Moore spoke to, said that unfortunately the conversation later slipped his mind.