THE award of six-figure bonuses to Network Rail bosses sparked widespread anger yesterday from passenger groups, politicians, rail regulators and transport unions.

Despite problems on the Virgin Trains-operated London to Scotland West Coast Main Line, some senior directors at the rail infrastructure firm are getting a performance-related total bonus package of more than £300,000.

The bonuses are also being paid after the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) saying Network Rail (NR) had presided over increases in delays caused by signalling problems.

The ORR – which had written to the remuneration committee that decides on NR bonuses, urging it to pay amounts that reflected performance – had also said NR’s performance on the West Coast line had been “unsatisfactory”.

It added that the company was perceived by train and freight firms as being “bureaucratic and unresponsive”.

ORR chief executive Bill Emery said yesterday that his office was “surprised and disappointed” that the bonuses had not been “significantly reduced” this year.

The Liberal Democrats said passengers would be shocked to hear rail bosses were being rewarded for failure, while rail union TSSA said the bonuses were completely unjustified.

The RMT transport union said the bonuses were “a kick in the teeth” for RMT members, whose jobs were under threat, while rail customer watchdog Passenger Focus said the bonuses would seem “premature” to Virgin and London Midland passengers, who were still waiting for a reliable service to arrive on the West Coast line.

Announced yesterday as NR published its annual report, the bonuses involve all NR’s 35,000 staff getting something, with the smallest bonus being £740.

NR chief executive Iain Coucher announced earlier that he would forego his annual bonus, but it was announced yesterday he would still get £150,000 as part of a three-year rolling incentive plan bonus.

NR group infrastructure director Peter Henderson will receive a £217,000 annual bonus plus £112,000 as part of the incentive plan, while former financial director Ron Henderson receives an annual bonus of £207,000 plus £112,000 under the three-year plan.

Mr Coucher said yesterday that NR had had a good year, hitting or exceeding almost all its targets and those set by the ORR.

He added that everyone from “track worker to boardroom” deserved “to share in our success”.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: “Network Rail bonuses are a matter for them.

“But, as (Transport Secretary) Lord Adonis made clear earlier this year, we welcome Iain Coucher’s decision to give up his annual bonus, which reflects the public’s mood on bonuses.”