General secretary Bob Crow said it was "sickening" that the bosses who continue to maintain "a rail system that the Potters Bar judge has described as presenting a continuing risk to life and limb have scooped up massive bonuses."

The coroner on the inquest into the crash, Judge Michael Findlay Baker QC, is due to release a report warning that passengers still risked death under NR management of rail infrastructure.

Mr Crow said this nailed "the lie that the organisation have got their house in order when it comes to safety."

With the coroner's report hanging over them "it would be an outrage if they were to plough on with their safety-critical cuts plans," he said.

Inquest jurors found that the 2002 disaster was caused by failure to inspect or maintain the points system.

The Crown Prosecution Service is also considering whether to bring manslaughter charges or a criminal case under health and safety law.

Criminal charges were initially ruled out in 2005 but prosecutors are reviewing whether new evidence has come to light from the inquest.

RMT has repeatedly warned of another disaster because of continued NR cost-cutting.

Mr Crow blasted NR for rewarding senior management "for cutting jobs and for axing inspection, renewals and maintenance and for presiding over systemic and continuing failures on rail safety."

He added: "They should be stripped of these grotesque bonuses and should be immediately instructed by the government to halt their cuts programme."