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Network Rail boss will not take bonus after Christmas rail disruption Network Rail boss will not take bonus after Christmas rail disruption
(35 minutes later)
Mark Carne, the embattled chief executive of Network Rail, has said he will not take his bonus amid an outcry over major rail disruption over the Christmas period.Mark Carne, the embattled chief executive of Network Rail, has said he will not take his bonus amid an outcry over major rail disruption over the Christmas period.
Carne, who earns £675,000 a year, was in line for a £30,000 bonus this year but came under fire for being on holiday in Cornwall during the disruption on the network.Carne, who earns £675,000 a year, was in line for a £30,000 bonus this year but came under fire for being on holiday in Cornwall during the disruption on the network.
“I am accountable for the railways and the performance [over Christmas] was not acceptable so I have decided that I should not take my bonus this year,” he told Sky News.“I am accountable for the railways and the performance [over Christmas] was not acceptable so I have decided that I should not take my bonus this year,” he told Sky News.
He added that when he took over at Network Rail in January 2014 he recognised that the railways faced enormous challenges and said these challenges remained.He added that when he took over at Network Rail in January 2014 he recognised that the railways faced enormous challenges and said these challenges remained.
Other top executives at Network Rail are entitled to annual performance-related bonuses of up to 20% of salaries.Other top executives at Network Rail are entitled to annual performance-related bonuses of up to 20% of salaries.
Manuel Cortes, leader of the TSSA rail union, said: “We welcome this decision by Mark Carne but, like many of his trains, it is running late – 72 hours late in this case. He should have announced it on Sunday when it became clear the level of chaos suffered by tens of thousands of passengers caught up in the King’s Cross shutdown. We hope that his fellow executives will now follow suit and announce they will also be giving up their large bonuses as well.”Manuel Cortes, leader of the TSSA rail union, said: “We welcome this decision by Mark Carne but, like many of his trains, it is running late – 72 hours late in this case. He should have announced it on Sunday when it became clear the level of chaos suffered by tens of thousands of passengers caught up in the King’s Cross shutdown. We hope that his fellow executives will now follow suit and announce they will also be giving up their large bonuses as well.”
A Network Rail spokeswoman said Carne had made a “personal decision”. On Monday he said he would probably be entitled to only around 5% but he refused to say whether he would be taking any bonus, despite being repeatedly pressed on the matter. A Network Rail spokeswoman said Carne had made a “personal decision”. On Monday he said he would probably be entitled to only about 5% but he refused to say whether he would be taking any bonus, despite being repeatedly pressed on the matter.
Passengers continued to face disruption in rail and tube services. An overhead wire problem at Dunbar in Scotland meant rush-hour disruption for those travelling with the CrossCountry, East Coast and ScotRail train companies. East Coast had a reduced service running from Edinburgh towards Newcastle, but with possible delays. No trains were running into Edinburgh and services from London terminated at either Newcastle or Berwick-upon-Tweed.Passengers continued to face disruption in rail and tube services. An overhead wire problem at Dunbar in Scotland meant rush-hour disruption for those travelling with the CrossCountry, East Coast and ScotRail train companies. East Coast had a reduced service running from Edinburgh towards Newcastle, but with possible delays. No trains were running into Edinburgh and services from London terminated at either Newcastle or Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Carne said he agreed with the transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, that the industry should conduct a wider review into whether it is wise to try to undertake so much engineering work in the Christmas or Easter period on the basis that fewer people travel during those times.Carne said he agreed with the transport secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, that the industry should conduct a wider review into whether it is wise to try to undertake so much engineering work in the Christmas or Easter period on the basis that fewer people travel during those times.
Robin Gisby, Network Rail’s managing director of operations, who was responsible for the overrunning engineering work that caused the cancellation of all trains in and out London King’s Cross on Saturday, is to forfeit a golden goodbye.Robin Gisby, Network Rail’s managing director of operations, who was responsible for the overrunning engineering work that caused the cancellation of all trains in and out London King’s Cross on Saturday, is to forfeit a golden goodbye.
Gisby was earmarked to receive a bonus of up to £371,000, but Network Rail said he would be leaving in February without any additional payment beyond that stipulated in his contract.Gisby was earmarked to receive a bonus of up to £371,000, but Network Rail said he would be leaving in February without any additional payment beyond that stipulated in his contract.