CORPORATE managers at Jarvis Rail could be most at risk from the company's decision to dump its rail maintenance contracts, it was claimed today.

Chiefs at the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) are concerned for staff at the York-based company that "cannot be readily identified with maintenance".

TSSA York negotiator Steve Coe said most staff would see no immediate change, with current rates of pay and conditions applying when workers are transferred to Network Rail.

But Mr Coe said the union would need to safeguard the future of the "corporate" group, which crossed over, but were not immediately seen as maintenance staff.

The TSSA has welcomed Jarvis Rail's decision to pull out of the rail maintenance business, following a series of controversial derailments.

The company said it made the decision on commercial grounds and intended to concentrate on major projects, signalling and track renewal.

Around 3,500 Jarvis Rail staff are employed in maintenance contracts - accounting for around two-thirds of all the company's workers.

Mr Coe said: "We are still waiting to see what the implications will be. Jarvis itself is looking to see what those will be as well.

"There will be some issues referring to management staff who are servicing both the maintenance and other forms of rail activity. But any transfers are unlikely before April, as indicated by Network Rail and Jarvis."

Mr Coe said that some staff at former off-shoot company Agilisys may also be affected by the firm's decision, including those who work on Jarvis Rail's payroll.

But he was confident that Agilisys' current workload would see those staff redeployed.

Mr Coe said: "Network Rail now has to deliver real improvements, and live up to these high expectations. I sincerely hope that they value the skilled and professional staff being transferred to them by Jarvis Rail, and will not be seeking the sort of staff cuts that they are making among their existing staff."

A Jarvis spokeswoman said: "While we expect the vast majority of staff to move to Network Rail, the details of any potential job losses have not yet been determined."

Updated: 08:42 Wednesday, October 22, 2003