NR has no shareholders but directors are answerable to more than 100 "members" including rail union chiefs who are expected to speak out against the bonuses at meeting in Bristol.

Unions were joined last month by politicians, rail regulators and passenger groups in condemning the bonuses, which saw some NR chiefs receive bonus packages in excess of £300,000.

Those criticising were upset at the scale of the bonuses given the fact that the West Coast Main Line has suffered continuing delays despite a £9 billion NR upgrade being completed last December.

There were also accusations - strongly denied by NR - that the company had attempted to "bury bad news" on the day Michael Jackson's death dominated news coverage.

NR chief executive Iain Coucher had already announced that he would not be taking his annual bonuses, but he still qualified for £150,000 as part of a three-year rolling incentive plan bonus.

The Office of Rail Regulation chief executive Bill Emery had said that his office was "surprised and disappointed" that the bonuses has 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.

Louise Ellman, chairman of the House of Commons Transport Committee, said: "Network Rail must become more accountable. It is unacceptable for the £9 billion upgrade of the West Coast line to be followed by so many delays. Network Rail must improve its efficiency so that delays and diversions are reduced."

See also:

Network Rail's '£6million man' under fire over huge bonuses for directors

London Evening Standard: 22.07.09
Dick Murray

Network Rail boss Iain Coucher, "The Six Million Pound Man”

Rail boss Iain Coucher was today labelled "The Six Million Pound Man" as protesters angry at the huge bonuses received by Network Rail directors gathered outside the company's annual meeting.

An actor dressed as the Fat Controller waved a banner carrying a picture of the chief executive with the words: "Wanted: The Six Million Pound Man. Iain Coucher has been paid £6million by NR in the past seven years. Nice work if you can get it."

Public members of the not-for-profit NR threatened to dominate the meeting with rows over the six-figure bonuses. But directors are set to defy mounting anger and keep their money.

A spokesman said bonuses to all staff were a reward for "improving the railway". Mr Coucher will receive a bonus of £150,000, taking his pay package to nearly £1million. The top six directors took £1.21million in bonuses on top of salaries worth £2.5million.

Their critics were upset at the scale of the bonuses given that the West Coast Main Line has suffered continuing delays despite a £9billion NR upgrade.

A pre-AGM meeting of NR members in Bristol last night was "overwhelmingly hostile" to the bonuses, said Gerry Doherty, general secretary of the TSSA transport union. He added: "Iain Coucher and his cronies win the Brass Neck of the Year award for taking these completely unjustified bonuses."

Louise Ellman, chairman of the House of Commons transport committee, said today: "NR must become more accountable."