NETWORK RAIL STAFF ON £40M GRAVY TRAIN

Chiefs' £35k bonus amid lines misery

- MATTHEW DAVIS

STAFF at Network Rail trousered almost £40million in bonuses last year as passengers faced misery.

Services were repeatedly halted by engineering works, yet nearly 13,000 workers got an average £3,000 each.

And bosses already pocketing a fortune got average top-ups of £35,000, despite Network Rail being sanctioned for fatal safety failings.

Jeremy Westlake, chief finance officer of the agency - which does not run trains but is responsible for tracks and stations - was paid £371,000 last year, plus £19,000 as a bonus.

Chief executive Andrew Haines is on £590,000 - although last year he did not take a bonus.