Row over 'Fat Controller' bonuses

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There was widespread anger when top NR directors received six-figure bonuses this year despite presiding over problems on the West Coast Main Line.

The directors of the not-for-dividend company are answerable to more than 100 members - some of whom spoke out against the bonuses at NR's annual meeting in Bristol on Wednesday - but a large majority of members voted in favour of the report on bonuses by the company's remuneration committee.

There was also a large majority who supported the continuing of an additional management incentive bonus scheme for top directors.

NR chief executive Iain Coucher announced earlier this year he would forego his annual bonus but still got £150,000 from the management incentive scheme.

Some other top directors got a total bonus package of more than £300,000 each - sums that were criticised by passenger groups, railway unions and the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR).

NR member Gerry Doherty, general secretary of the TSSA rail union, was among those speaking out against the bonuses at the annual meeting.

Earlier, his union arranged for members arriving at the meeting to be greeted by an actor playing the part of Thomas the Tank Engine character the Fat Controller.

After the vote on Wednesday, Mr Doherty said: "I am very disappointed that NR has ignored the court of public opinion and passengers' anger. Like the Fat Controller they seem to set these fictional targets which they always seem to achieve every year."

All NR staff received bonuses this year, ranging from as little as £740 to a bonus package of £329,000 for the company's group infrastructure director, Peter Henderson.